10th September 2007

Bayleys Midlands teams showed promise in their National Hockey League warm up quadrangular tournament held in Taupo over the weekend.
The women were undefeated and in a continuation to last year’s excellent showing, again look to be on target for a top four placing. They opened the weekend with a 5-3 win over Capital and controlled the match from the outset. Dutch junior internationals Kiki Collot d’Escury and Fluer van Dooren both made an immediate impact with van Dooren opening the scoring and d’Escury providing a delightfully weighted ball for NZ U21 Gemma Flynn to regain the lead after Capital’s Suzie Muirhead had equalized.
Midlands stuttered in the opening stanza of the second half and trailed 3-2 after Nicole van Oosteram and Gerry Blair both converted chances. D’Escury stamped her mark on the game and in tandem with Robbie Matthews took control of the midfield possession. Midland strikers Lorene Brake, Georgie Nation, and Flynn all scored to seal win.
They backed up the win with a come from behind 4-2 win against a depleted North Harbour side with van Dooren (2), Shiloh Gloyn, and Brake all scoring. In their last match vs winless Central, they were made to work hard in the first half but took complete control in the second to run out 5-3 victors.
Taupo supporters were delighted their local prodigy’s Gloyn and Nation both scored twice with Brake completing the 5-2 rout.

In other women’s matches Harbour narrowly defeated Capital 4-3 and Capital downed Central 5-3.

Midlands and Central mens teams both had solid showings with Midlands most impressive in upsetting defending champions Capital 4-3. North Harbour draft players Simon Brill and Joseph Barthomolew both fitted well into the Midlands new look side with Brill scoring twice against Capital and Bartholomew working well in tandem with Richard Petherick in defense. Midlands could have beaten Capital by a larger margin but for some inept finishing and excellent keeping by their goalkeeper Greg Paynter. Midland’s secured the win after Petherick converted a drag flickied PC and Sandeep Puna finally finding his shooting accuracy.
German import Phil Stahl had a quiet game against Capital but was more lively in his match against Central but he blemished his contribution of a goal by being sin binned. Petherick scored twice from PC’s whilst Raynesh Smith bounced back from an average finishing display against Capital to convert twice in style against Central. Earlier Central had held Harbour to a 1 all draw and narrowly lost to Capital 1-2. Scottish import Joe Simpson showed impressive finishing skills and keeper Stephen Graham shone during the weekend.
Capital bounced from their shock loss to Midlands to down Harbour 4-1. Matt L’Hullier showed prowess with three drag flicks and the Hilton brothers Jason and Blair worked well together to open up holes in the Harbour defense.

With the opening NHL weekend being hosted in Hamilton on 22-23 September this years competition looks to be excitingly closer than last years and hopes are high that Midlands Men can also make the semi finals.

For the Record
Friday
Men:
Bayleys Midlands 2 (Lloyd Stevenson 2) lost to North Harbour 3 (David Green, Ben Wyatt, Sam Bartholomew)
Bordeaux Bakery Capital 2 (Stephen Jenness, Jason Hilton) beat Central Mavericks 1 (Jesse Workman)
Saturday
Men:
Bayleys Midlands 4 (Simon Brill 2, Richard Petherick, Sandeep Puna) beat Bordeaux Bakery Capital 3 (Matt L’Huillier 2, Scott Barnett)
North Harbour 1 (David Green) drew with Central 1 (Joe Simpson)
Women:
Bayleys Midlands 5 (Fluer van Dooren, Gemma Flynn 2, Lorene Brake) beat Bordeaux Bakery Capital 3 (Suzie Muirhead, Nicole van Oosteram, Gerry Blair)
Bayleys Midlands 4 (Fluer van Dooren 2, Shiloh Gloyn, Lorene Brake) beat North Harbour 2 (Petrea Webster, Erin Weber)
Bordeaux Bakery Capital 5 (Nicola Brydon 2, Michelle Borren 2, Suzie Muirhead) beat Central Mysticks 3 (Cathryn Finlayson, Merania Hibbard 2)
Sunday
Men:
Bordeaux Bakery Capital 4 (Matt L’Huillier 3, Scott Barnett) beat North Harbour 1 (Shaun Barnett)
Bayleys Midlands 5 (Richard Petherick 2, Phil Stahr, Raynesh Smith 2) v beat Central Mavericks (Joe Simpson 2, Jesse Workman)
Women:
Bordeaux Bakery Capital 3 (Suzie Muirhead, Nicola Brydon 2) lost to North Harbour 4 (Rhianna Buchanan 2, Jane Clarke, Erin Weber)
Bayleys Midlands 5 (Shilo Gloyne 2, Georgie Nation, Lorene Brake 2) beat beat Central Mysticks 2(Melanie Aiken, Katarina O’Callaghan )



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