SAINTS confirmed themselves as favourites to take the Cairns Hockey Association women's classic league title with a 3-1 win over Brothers on Saturday night.

Second-half goals to Shannon Bain and Emma Rowe in the 47th and 53rd minutes put paid to a valiant Brothers effort after the teams had been locked at 1-1 for most of the match.

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Saints, whose only loss this season came at the expense of Brothers, made the initial breakthrough when Jedess Hudson finished off a Kath Messer raid in the seventh minute.

Brothers hit back in the 14th minute with a well-struck backstick shot from Danielle Hippisley.

Saints were rocked when Hayley Canuto went down clutching her left knee three minutes later and had to be assisted from the field, taking no further part in the match.

However, the minor premiers rallied and, assisted by excellent saves from goalkeeper Kylie Ireland to deny Jalaine Beard and Rachel Scarabello in the 22nd and 43rd minutes, were able to halt any further Brethren progress.

Despite the loss, Brothers striker Hippisley believed the Fury were making up ground on Saints even after losing key player Karley Evans who is pursuing her career in Belgium.

"We’re working together as a team and everything is coming together for the finals," she said.

"We have to learn to play without Karley.

"It’s something that happens in sport and we have to learn to cope without her which I thought we did very well."

Saints assistant coach Mikala Duda said last year’s runners-up were in good shape as they await to find out who will be their grand final opponent on September 6.

"We had a few girls out and after the early injury (to Canuto) we had to rearrange our defence after already having to use reserve grade and under-16 players to fill in," she said.

"They stood up and did a really good job."

Duda said the team was not using last year’s grand final loss to Brothers, after going into the decider unbeaten, as motivation for this year’s campaign but were keen to avoid another runners-up finish.

"We’re looking forward to playing the grand final and want to win (because) we know what second feels like," she said.

In the other women’s match, Trinity Stingers finished a difficult season with a 2-1 victory, pleasing coach Ivan Pearce who said his side had made great progress this year and battled well without luck.

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