4th August 2007

The Cook University were in sublime goal scoring form when they played against Valley United on Saturday at the Gallagher Hockey Centre.
During the ABN AMRO-Craig’s match of the weekend, Varsity assured themselves of a home semi final spot and dented Valley United’s semi final aspirations with an impressive display of clinical finishing. Valley United’s Malcolm Rawnsley opened the scoring but the students replied with four goals in the next ten minutes. Morice McMillan put his side on level pegging, two successive James Hawley drag flicked PC’s and a stylish finish by Raynesh Smith rocked the visitors.
Black Sticks Casey Henwood and Lloyd Stevenson negated each other during a competitive first half but the Varsity’s passing game was more effective in finding unmarked strike forwards. Sandeep Puna, Ben Gilby-Todd and Stuart Pitu showed composure in the midfield and utilised inside forwards Tim Smith and Henwood to good effect. Darren Smith, Stevenson and Rawnsley kept Valley competitive creating several scoring opportunities.
Craig Hardman and Hawley were sound at the back and made timely tackles to deny the visitors any chance of a comeback. McMillan completed a hat trick when closing the scoring action in each half and Chris Marr, Tony Hopping and Mike Hill all converted after slick passing movements.
Valley remained competitive throughout and the 9-1 score line didn’t do their efforts justice. They will now need to win both remaining matches against the Tauranga based sides to make the semi finals.

Weather affected play in all of the remaining matches. Hamilton Old Boys struggled to regain the form they displayed last week as the turf became increasingly waterlogged in their match against a plucky Rotorua Indians unit. James Philips opened the scoring for Old Boys with a deceptive touch but the visitors responded with a PC deflection to Bhovish Cima. Captain Paul Rae regained the lead with a field goal and Richard Petherick converted a drag flicked PC to give Old Boys a 3-1 half time advantage.
As the rain made the surface dangerously unplayable during the second half the match was abandoned.

Fraser Tech and The Riv Suburbs sought to advance semi final aspirations and both sides were desperate for the win. With the pitch sticky from the rain Tech coped better in a stop start first half. Darren Luckin opened the scoring for Tech from an intercepted pass and coolly slotted the opportunity. Matt Luxford equalised for Suburbs with a drag flicked PC but Tech’s elusive strike forward Owen Mitai-Wells scored a classy reversed hit shot to give his side a deserved 2-1 half time advantage.
As the pitch dried during the second half, the Suburbs midfield led by Ian Haste, gained ascendancy and utilised possession to greater effect. Tech goalkeeper Craig Armstrong denied the Suburbs strikers with several reflex saves but the weight of possession and territory eventually told. Suburbs earned a hard fought 4-2 win when converting PC opportunities through Tim Pierce, BJ Watling and Luxford.
Tech lie tenuously in fourth place ahead of Valley on goal differential but must upset Hooper Cup champions Hamilton Old Boys or rely on other results to make the semi’s.

In the only local women’s fixture able to be played, Te Awamutu and Rotorua Aces fought out a 2 all draw. Te Awamutu dominated the first half possession and territory and went ahead through a Kath Drew PC conversion. A lapse in concentration by the Te Awamutu defence just before half time allowed the dangerous Aces striker Robyn Kearny to earn a PC from which Piri Rangitauira equalised with a deft reverse touch. Orewa Thyne-Fitzgerald gave the visitors the lead but eventually the more experienced Te Awamutu side equalised through NZ Masters striker Michelle Whitehead.
Southern United slipped to sixth behind Aces after narrowly losing 1-2 to title contenders Tauranga United in Mt Maunganui. Honour Young converted for Southern but goals to Tauranga’s Gemma Flynn and Katrina Carson gave their side maximum points.
Avenue Storage University remain unbeaten at the top of the table but their fixture against Fraser Tech was postponed due to the waterlogged pitch.

Vaughan Hiltons Points Tables updated as at 4 Aug
FOR THE RECORD
PREMIER MEN
The Riv Suburbs Piako 4 (Matt Luxford 2, Tim Pierce, BJ Watling) beat Fraser Tech 2 (Darren Luckin, Owen Mitai-Wells) HT 1-2;
Hamilton Old Boys 3 (James Philips, Paul Rae, Richard Petherick) beat Rotorua Indians 1 (Bhovish Cima) HT 3-1;
The Cook University 9 (Morice McMillan 3, James Hawley 2, Raynesh Smith, Chris Marr, Tony Hopping, Mike Hill) beat Valley United 1(Malcolm Rawnsley) HT 5-1.

PREMIER WOMEN
Rotorua Aces 2 (Piri Rangitauira, Orewa Thyne-Fitzgerald) drew with Te Awamutu 2 (Kath Drew, Michelle Whitehead), HT 1-1;
Southern United 1 (Honor Young) lost to Tauranga United 2 (Gemma Flynn, Katrina Carson), HT 1-1; Valley United 3 beat Papakura 2, HT 0-1.

RESERVE MEN
Tauranga Old Boys 3 beat Papakura 0, HT 1-0; Pukekohe Indians 2 beat Kohekohe 0 HT 0-0;
Great Lake Taupo 7 beat Rotorua Eagles 2, HT 5-1.

RESERVE WOMEN
Onewhero Pukekohe 4 beat Ngapuna 0, HT 2-0; Puke United 2 drew with Manurewa Arrows 2;
Great Lake Taupo 5 beat Central BOP 4, HT 2-2.