All but two Waikato sides have been eliminated from Intercity title aspirations after an eventful weekend of hockey.
Hamilton Old Boys were unluckiest to miss the semi’s after being highly competitive throughout pool play. They were well beaten 6-3 over the weekend by University CBD, the only local men’s team to qualify. Duncan Thorne opened the scoring for Old Boys but Varsity upped the tempo midway through the first half to create several unsuccessful scoring opportunities. Tony Hopping levelled the scores and turned provider with a well weighted pass for Raynesh Smith to convert giving the students a 2-1 half time advantage.
The second half started at a frenetic pace with play moving from end to end. Hopping converted from a well timed fly hit to open up the second half scoring and TK Dewes gave Varsity a comfortable lead immediately from the restart. Old Boys refused to give in and in the space of five minutes were back to a one gaol deficit after back to back goals to Joel Finn and Marc Carney. The students again stepped up the tempo and showed clinical finishing with Craig Hardman and Mike Hill sealing the win. Playing in the pivotal centre half role Stuart Pitu, along with Smith and Hopping, were the pick of the Varsity players whilst Thorne and Gareth Nuzum were solid for Old Boys. University went through unbeaten to top Pool B with Old Boys being squeezed to third on goal differential by Kohekohe who trounced Rotorua Indians 9-1. University will host Papakura, 2nd in Pool A, whilst unbeaten Valley United will host Kohekohe in Ngatea.Fraser Tech finished 4th in Pool A ahead of The Riv Suburbs Piako and will play off against Old Boys in pool crossover games for 5th-8th.

In the only locally played women’s fixture, Fraser Tech assured themselves a top four placing with a hard fought 1-0 win over Rotorua Aces. The usually reliable strikers Debbie Bell for Tech and Donna Keany for Aces both missed clear cut opportunities with Keany unluckily hitting the cross bar on one occasion. Bell, in her last game for Tech before departing to the USA, made amends in the dying minutes to seal the win when latching onto a well weighted Morgan Quinn cross to score from close range. The two sides will meet in a fortnight for 3rd and 4th whilst previously unbeaten sides Otumoetai and Avenue Storage University will contest the final. Otumoetai grabbed a vital last minute 3-2 home victory over the students to secure home town advantage in the final.