2nd September 2007
More photos of Match Day>>

The Cook University’s James Hawley narrowly missed out on opening the scoring in the Division 1 Men's Intercity Final against Hamilton Old Boys when his drag flicked PC shot hit the post. Hawley made no mistake minutes later with a well executed low drag flicked PC and Varsity went 2 nil up through a Ben Tanner touch in.
The students could have been further ahead but for some fine reflex saves by Old Boys goal keeper Ian Johnstone. Richard Petherick replied with a drag flicked PC but Hawley again converted from a PC to take a 3-1 half time lead after the initial shot had once again hit the post. Casey Henwood showed his class and composure in the circle to deftly slot in for Varsity to wrest the early second half advantage and Tim Smith increased the lead with a crisply taken reversed hit shot from the top of the circle. Raynesh Smith scored after a series of excellent interpassing from the Varsity midfield and strikers. The crowd were treated to a final minute goal fest when Petherick scored from a PC and Varsity’s Sam Broadbent and Tony Hopping each converted field goals. Varsity maintained a faster pace throughout the final both in delivering their passes and pressuring the Old Boy’s defense into errors. The final 8-2 score line reflected their overall dominance and ability to take opportunities.


A Donna Keaney hat trick helped seal a 4-1 win for Rotorua Aces when hosting the women’s final against Te Awamutu. Aces led 1 nil at half time but were out played in the second half with Te Awamutu’s Tosca Warren gaining a solitary consolation goal.

In the Men’s playoff for 3rd and 4th Valley United started strongly with two early field goals to Malcolm Rawnsley . The Riv Suburbs striker Brett Saunders delivered a pin point accurate pass for Aaron Barnsdall to deflect in to the net. Valley’s Jeremy Cryer responded in kind with a crisply taken shot from a high deflection off Suburbs keeper Justin Butcher to take Valley to a deserved 3-1 half time advantage. Cryer increased the lead early into the second half but a well taken field goal to Ronnie Bird and a converted PC variation to Saunders kept Suburbs in the game. Todd Bell restored the visitors two goal lead from a scrambled PC breakdown and their experienced international players Lloyd Stevenson and Darren Smith successfully slowed the tempo of the game to stifle any possible Suburbs revival.

Fraser Tech bounced back from an early two goal deficit to eventually prevail 6-3 over Mt Maunganui to take 5th place. Owen Mitai-Wells scored a hat trick with Lyndon Cooper, Grant Goile and Callum Slee completing the scoring for Tech. The Mount countered with a hat trick to L Thompson. Tech’s women’s side also secured 5th and led 1 nil at half time through a Morgan Quin goal. Debbie Bell increased the lead but Southern United stormed back with goals to Emily Schwikkard and Honor Young. Bell clinched the 3-2 win with a goal in the final minute of play.

Avenue Storage University rounded off a superb day for the students to take 3rd place in the Women’s Division One competition. They held off early pressure from Tauranga United and took a two goal advantage into the break after goals from Charlotte McCullough and Fiona Burland. The students dominated the second half and prevailed 5-0 with goals to Lymarah Wharerau, Shannon Cochrane, and Burland.

Tauranga Old Boys took out the Division 2 final with a 2-1 win over Papakura and Onewhero-Pukekohe secured the Women’s Division 2 title with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Central BOP.

For the Record
Midlands Intercity
MIDLANDS INTERCITY HOCKEY RESULTS, 1 Sep 2007

Men Div 1:
1st/2nd The Cook University 8 (James Hawley 2, Ben Tanner, Casey Henwood, Tim Smith, Tony Hopping, Raynesh Smith, Sam Broadbent) beat Hamilton Old Boys 2 (Richard Petherick 2) HT 3-1

3rd/4th Valley United 5 (Malcolm Rawnsley 2, Jeremy Cryer 2, Todd Bell) beat The Riv Suburbs 3 (Aaron Barnsdall, Ronnie Bird, Brett Saunders) HT 3-1;

5th/6th Fraser Tech 6 (Owen Mitai-Wells 3, Grant Goile, Lyndon Cooper, Callum Slee) beat Mount Maunganui 3 (L Thompson 3) HT 2-2;

7th/8th Rotorua Indians 3 beat Cosmopolitan Otumoetai 2, HT 1-2

Men Div 2:
1st/2nd Tauranga Old Boys 2 beat Papakura 1, HT 1-0;
3rd/4th Pukekohe Indians 2 beat Kohekohe 1, HT 2-0;
5th/6th Onewhero Pukekohe 4 Great Lake Taupo 0; 7th Eagles

Women Div 1:
1st/2nd Rotorua Aces 4 (Donna Keaney 3, Kate Simmons) beat Te Awamutu 1 (Tosca Warren) HT 1-0;

3rd/4th Avenue Storage University 5 (Charlotte McCullough, Fiona Burland 2, Lymarah Wharerau, Shannon Cochrane) beat Tauranga United 0, HT 2-0;

5th/6th Fraser Tech 3 (Morgan Quinn, Debbie Bell 2) beat Southern United 2 (Emily Schwikkard, Honor Young) HT 1-0;

7th/8th Valley United 3 beat Papakura 0, HT 0-0.

Women Div 2:
1st/2nd Onewhero Pukekohe 4 beat Central BOP 1, HT 3-1;
3rd/4th Great Lake Taupo beat Puke United by default ;5th Manurewa Arrows

Full Results and points available
http://www.geocities.com/vaughanhilton/intercitytables.htm