Avenue Storage University avenged their round robin loss to top qualifiers and previously unbeaten Otumoetai women in the final of the Intercity Women’s Hockey competition played in Tauranga. Otumoetai chose the most important day of the season to have an off-day with their vastly experienced midfield players failing to dominate a fired up University side. They paid the price as the students galloped away to a five-goal wining margin to take out the final and add it to the University club’s previous Intercity triumphs.
The students were clinical in the scoring circle with a hat trick to Junior Black Stick Cathryn Finlayson, two goals to Lymarah Wharerau and one to Jemma Overmire. Leading 2-1 at half time with Otumoetai’s Tambra McGarvey converting the students shut out the hosts in a clinical second half display.
Previous title holders Rotorua Aces avenged their earlier loss to Fraser Tech to finish 3rd with a comfortable 4-2 win. Donna Kearney 2, Hannah Kearney and Okeroa Douglas converted for Aces whilst Shaunna Polley and Lee Millar scored for Tech.
Te Awamutu ended a disappointing Intercity campaign with an emphatic 5-1 win to finish 7th.

Valley United Team Manager Alex Quinn reported that the Men’s Intercity final game between top qualifiers Valley United and Papakura was a one sided affair with Valley prevailing 7-2.
Junior Black Stick Ricky Clark opened the scoring with drag flicked PC and Lloyd Stephenson converted a stroke. Unlike last week’s semi final, Papakura struggled to get any mid field ascendancy as Valley’s Lincoln Churchill, Nick Quinn, and Ricky Clark controlled possession well with Churchill scoring a superb individual field goal in the 17th minute.
Papakura’s James Glen pegged one back late in the half from a PC but Valley responded after a skillful run from the sideline by Nick Quinn found an unmarked Stephenson who made no mistake. Churchill and Papakura’s Peter van Bruegel traded goals but Valley’s Malcolm Rawnsley and Brook Campbell completed the rout. Valley Keeper Tom Lysaght was awarded man of the match whilst Papakura’s Andrew Lawson and Mark Kake were the pick of the visitors.

University CBD returned to form after last weeks disappointing showing in the semi finals to clinically demolish Kohekohe 7-0 for 3rd. Sandeep Puna, Raynesh Smith and Billy Emeny all converted twice with James Hawley completing the rout.
Hamilton Old Boys were made to work hard for their 5th placing with a 6-4 win against Pukekohe Indians with Gareth Nuzum 2, Brendon Harland 2, Kyle Westerman and Ben Bartels all scoring.
Otumoetai and Fraser Tech shared 7th place when drawing 3 all in Tauranga and The Riv Suburbs Piako finished 9th after downing a plucky Tauranga Old Boys side 3-1. Matt Luxford and Cameron Keogh traded first half goals with CJ Mahon and Brett Sanders completing the win for Suburbs.

This season’s Intercity reports would not be possible without the excellent support of Tauranga Media Liaison Bill Webb and thanks also to Alex Quinn for the photo (below) from the finals and totally unbiased match report.

The Riverside Garden Fertiliser Cup is being presented to the Valley Captain Todd Bell by Midlands Board Member Graeme Courtney.

FOR THE RECORD
MIDLANDS INTERCITY HOCKEY LEAGUE RESULTS (FINALS) 16/8/08
Premier Men
Final: Thames Valley United 7 (Lloyd Stevenson 2, Lincoln Churchill 2, Ricky Clark, Malcolm Rawnsley, Brook Campbell) Papakura 2 (James Glenn, Peter van Breugel), HT 4-1.
For 3rd place: University CBD 7 (Raynesh Smith 2, Billy Emeny 2, Sandeep Puna 2, James Hawley) Kohekohe 0, HT 3-0.
For 5th place: Hamilton Old Boys 6 (Gareth Nuzum 2, Brendon Harland 2, Kyle Westerman, Ben Bartels) Pukekohe Indians 4 ( Yogish Hari 2, M Bal, Umesh Hari), HT 3-2.
For 7th place: Otumoetai 3 Fraser-Tech 3, HT 1-1.
For 9th place: Suburbs 3 (CJ Mahon, Matt Luxford, Brett Sanders) Tauranga Old Boys 1 (Cameron Keogh), HT 1-1.
For 11th place: Mt Maunganui (Cleay Perham, Shane Woolley, Jason Weaver, Kieran Fry, Garth Moran 5) Onewhero 1, HT 3-1.
For 13th place: Rotorua Indians 7 Taupo 1.

Premier Women
Final: Waikato University 6 (Cathryn Finlayson 3, Lymarah Wharerau 2, Jemma Overmire) Otumoetai 1 (Tambra McGarvey), HT 2-1.
For 3rd place: Rotorua Aces 4 (Donna Kearney 2, Hannah Kearney, Okeroa Douglas Fraser-Tech 2 (Shaunna Polley, Lee Millar), HT 1-1.
For 5th place: Thames Valley United 3 Onewhero 1, HT 1-0.
For 7th place: Te Awamutu 5 (Diane Rumble, Robbie Matthews, Maddie Matthews, Tosca Warren 2) Papakura 1.
9th place: Taupo.