19th May 2008

The Riv Suburbs Piako grafted out a hard fought 2 all draw against CBD University to earn a rematch against the students in next week’s semi finals.
Suburbs Aaron Barnsdall & Varsity’s Mike Hill traded goals in an excellent end-to-end first half display of open running hockey. Suburbs regained the lead through a deft deflection by Auke Idema from a penalty corner breakdown but Hill restored parity soon after from a PC variation and ensured his side finished top of the table after the round robin phase.

Valley United men were the unlucky side to not make the semi finals and ended the round with an emphatic 7-4 win over a strong Waikato U18’s side. Ricky Clarke once again led the way for Valley scoring four goals, with Todd Bell converting two. Ross Fitz-John, Chris Harding, Blair Nicholson, and Kyle Westerman converted their chances for the Waikato U18’s. Valley United men will have gained from their experience in playing in the Waikato Premier Men’s competition and will be expected to push the local sides hard all the way for an intercity finals spot when the competition starts in three weeks.

Hamilton Old Boys will seek to avenge their earlier 4-5 Rae/Martin Trophy loss to Fraser Tech when the sides meet in the other semi final.

Fraser Tech women remained the only unbeaten side in the premier competitions after easily seeing off the challenge of the Waikato U18’s. They will play Valley United in next week’s semi finals and should progress to the finals.

Tech’s title aspirations wont come easy though, as Avenue Storage University signalled a warning to them by virtue of an emphatic 8-0 drubbing of Valley United. Back to full strength, Varsity now look title contenders and welcomed the return from a stint playing overseas of ex Black Stick Clarissa Eshuis. Midland U21 representative Cathryn Finlayson led the way scoring five goals whilst fellow returning U21 players Jemma Overmire (2) and Lymarah Wharerau completed the rout. They will face Te Awamutu in the other semi final but with Te Awamutu’s NZ Masters players (who showed excellent form in the recently played Trans Tasman series), able to fully concentrate on the local competition, they won’t let their poor early season form deny them a chance at the title and will utilise their depth of experience to try and halt Varsity’s progress to the finals.