13th August 2007

HAMILTON OLD BOYS & THE COOK UNIVERSITY CEMENT HOME SEMI FINALS after fighting off sterner than expected challenges from Fraser Tech & The Riv Suburbs respectively.
In the opening game of the day Old Boys looked set to seal a comfortable win against a depleted Fraser Tech unit when Richard Petherick gave them an early two goal advantage. The first came from a trademark drag flicked PC and he followed that up shortly after with a well executed reverse hit field goal. Darren Luckin reduced the deficit with a deflected touch in. Grant Goile leveled the scores just before the break from a PC which he earned with a patient buildup with Callum Slee and Owen Mitai-Wells. Although Old Boys were clearly dominant in the first half, another fine exhibition of reflex goal keeping from Craig Armstrong kept his side in with a chance of an upset. He unluckily conceded a stroke during a goal mouth melee early into the second spell which Petherick converted to give Old Boys a deserved lead. Petherick showed his class with a fifty metre pass to an unmarked Marc Carney who crossed to Hayden Ripia to slot in from close range. Petherick & Ripia converted once more each to round off a comfortable 6-2 win.

Varsity struggled to find their rhythm against Suburbs in the opening exchanges. Aaron Barnsdall showed good tight skills in finding space for a well taken shot leaving Varsity keeper Chris Lawry stranded. Sandeep Puna luckily equalised when he squeezed a baseline shot through the legs of Justin Butcher in goal for Suburbs. Morice McMillan gave the students the half time advantage with a clever pivot and squeeze shot from close range. Both sides created several clear cut chances in an even second spell but some excellent defensive work by Suburbs Chris Furminger and Varsity’s James Hawley kept the score line intact. Evergreen striker Brett Saunders eventually equalised from close range but Mike Hill snatched victory for Varsity with a first time strike on the stroke of full time. Suburbs will gain a semifinal spot with a win over the Mount next week whilst Tech must now rely on other results.

Thames Valley enhanced their semi final chances with a 4-0 win over the Mount.

In the ABN AMRO-Craig’s match of the day Avenue Storage University bounced back from a tenacious opening stanza dominated by Southern United to remain unbeaten with a hard fought 3-2 win. Emily Schwikkard gave Southern the lead in the opening minutes but goals to Gemma Overmire and Stacey Brannigan gave the students the half time lead. Schwikkard leveled the scores midway through a second half somewhat against the run of play but Overmire secured maximum points from a scramble in front of goal.

Tauranga Utd top the table after defeating Te Awamutu 4-2 and next weeks top of the table clashes will decide the semifinalists.

Varsity have back to back games against Fraser Tech and Tauranga Utd whilst Tech will back up against hosts Rotorua Aces.

For the Record
Midlands Intercity
MIDLANDS INTERCITY HOCKEY RESULTS, 11 Aug 2007
Men Div 1:
In Hamilton: The Riv Suburbs Piako 2 (Aaron Barnsdall, Brett Saunders) lost to The Cook University 3 (Sandeep Puna, Morice McMillan, Mike Hill);
Hamilton Old Boys 6 (Richard Petherick 4, Hayden Ripia 2) beat Fraser Tech 2 (Darren Luckin, Grant Goile) HT 2-2;
At Rotorua: Rotorua Indians 4 beat Otumoetai 2 HT 1-2;
At Ngatea: Mt Maunganui 0 lost to Valley United 4, HT 0-4;
At Mt Maunganui: Mt Maunganui 0 beat Otumoetai 2 HT 1-2;

Men Div 2:
Kohekohe 2 beat Onewhero-Pukekohe 0;
Tauranga Old Boys 5 beat Pukekohe Indians 3 HT 2-3;
Great Lake Taupo 0 lost to Papakura 6.

Women Div 1:
In Hamilton: Southern Utd 2(Emily Schwikkard) lost to Avenue Storage University 3 (Gemma Overmire 2, Stacey Brannigan), HT 1-2;
At Ngatea: Fraser Tech 2 beat Valley United 0;
At Rotorua: Rotorua Aces 4 beat Papakura 0, HT 2-0;
At Mt Maunganui: Te Awamutu 2 lost to Tauranga Utd 4, HT 2-3; Tauranga Utd beat Papakura by default.

Women Div 2:
Central BOP 14 beat Manurewa Arrows 0, HT 6-0; Onewhero Pukekohe 3 beat Great Lake Taupo 1, HT 1-0.

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