19th August 2007

University topped both Men's and Women's First Division Intercity hockey competitions at the completion of the round robin phase and both sides scored decisive victories over second placed sides Hamilton Old Boys and Tauranga United respectively. Avenue Storage University fresh off a 6-1 victory against Fraser Tech in a catch up game played Friday dominated the opening exchanges against Tauranga United. They went behind initially when Sara Chynoweth slotted a field goal from close range but Jo McCready pegged one back immediately and Stacey Brannigan gave the students a deserved half time advantage.
Jennifer Johns and Lymarah Wharerau took advantage of second half chances to gain a decisive 4-1 victory.

By contrast The Cook University's 2-0 victory over Hamilton Old Boy's was soured by the early cancellation of the game mid way through the second spell when the lighting system failed. Chris Marr and Ben Tanner set up the win with first half goals and Chris Lawry was in fine touch preventing the dangerous Richard Petherick from converting from PC opportunities.

The Riv Suburbs will play Old Boy's next week in one semi final after downing Mt Maunganui 5-0 in Tauranga to finish third.

Thames Valley broke the clean sweep of the local sides in the semi's when gaining maximum must win points against Otumoetai in their 3-1 victory and relegating Fraser Tech to fifth. Tech had earlier done what was needed of them in a stuttering 4-3 victory over bottom placed Rotorua Indians but needed Valley to lose to make the semi's. Owen Mitai-Wells, Andrew Morgan and Grant Goile all scored first half goals to give Tech a handy 3-1 half time lead but a raft of missed opportunities and deteriorating weather conditions combined to allow Indians to remain competitive with the Walker brothers and D Deada all scoring for the visitors to keep the game close. Tech's day was further soured when their women's team also missed the play off when beaten by hosts Rotorua Aces 3-1.

In the ABN AMRO-Craigs match of the day Te Awamutu brushed off last weeks loss to Tauranga to crush Papakura 9-0. Robbie Matthews led the way with four goals in a sublime all round performance. Tosca Warren scored the goal of the day with a delightfully deceptive touch that just dropped below the cross bar and deservedly notched a hat trick of her own. Rose Jeffares and Kath Drew also scored classy goals with Drew involved several times in an excellent inter passing movement for hers.

Te Awamutu will face Tauranga whilst Aces play Varsity.

FOR THE RECORD
PREMIER MEN
The Riv Suburbs Piako 5 (Tenga Rangitauira 2, Matt Luxford, Brett Saunders, Aaron Barnsdall) beat Mt Maunganui 0, HT 1-0;
Hamilton Old Boys 0 lost to The Cook University 2 (Chris Marr, Ben Tanner) HT 0-2;
Fraser Tech 4 (Owen Mitai-Wells, Andrew Morgan, Grant Goile, Lyndon Cooper) beat Rotorua Indians 3 (D Walker, D Dheada, A Walker) HT 3-1;
Valley United 3 (D Crookenden, T Bell, Darren Smith) beat Cosmopolitan Otumoetai 1 (Manu Singh).

PREMIER WOMEN
Avenue Storage University 6 (Chelsea Paddy 3, Stacey Brannigan 3) beat Fraser Tech 1 (Debbie Bell) HT 4-0 (played Friday);
Rotorua Aces 3 beat Fraser Tech 1;
Tauranga United 1 lost to Avenue Storage University 4 (Jo McCready, Stacey Brannigan, Jennifer Johns, Lymarah Wharerau HT 1-2;
Te Awamutu 9 (Robbie Matthews 4, Tosca Warren 3, Kath Drew, Rose Jeffares)
beat Papakura 0, HT 5-0.

RESERVE MEN
Tauranga Old Boys 1 lost to Kohekohe 5,
Papakura 5 beat Onewhero Pukekohe 0;
Pukekohe Indians 10 beat Rotorua Eagles 2.

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