Unfortunately that was where the Hayden Lewin-coached side’s run ended on the Central Coast, beaten 4-3 by Metro South West on Sunday morning.

“We probably could have won the game today but they were a bit of a bigger side and we couldn’t quite get through their defences,” Lewin said.

They were able to create chances but couldn’t finish them off in what was a tight contest with never more than a couple of goals between the two sides.

Tamworth led 2-1 and then 3-2 at half-time.

“They scored against the run of play early in the second half and it was 3-all for most of the second half,” Lewin said.

Metro South West broke the deadlock with only a couple of minutes remaining and Tamworth were unable to find an equaliser and force the game into extra time.

“I was pleased with how they went, it was just a shame we couldn’t get there in the end,” Lewin said, adding that he was proud of their efforts.

They topped their pool after racking up wins over Central Coast (5-2), Northern Sydney and Beaches (4-2), Grafton (5-1) and Hockey New England (2-nil). 

“We were very good defensively. Up until that final we only conceded a max of two goals a game,” he said.

They also crucially started the tournament well, which made a welcome change.

“We usually don’t start that well, and we’re fighting to claw back,” he said.

But they won their first two games and set themselves up well to finish in the top two.

Lewin said all the girls played well and put in a really solid effort but did single out Ash Chaffey.

“She played well in most games,” he said.

The younger Tamworth 2’s side finished off their Division 3 campaign with a 1-all draw with Hockey Coffs Coast.

They had placed fourth in their pool after recording three losses, two of them by two goals or less, and a draw in their pool games.

The boys championships, which Tamworth is also fielding two sides in, finish up on Monday.

The Tamworth 1s made a strong start winning their first two games, but the 2s didn’t fare as well going down in theirs.