25th May 2008

In the first Semi-Final of the Waikato Premier Men’s hockey competition, The RIV Suburbs Piako took on University CBD. In an even but seesawing opening stanza, Suburbs central striker Auke Idema opened the scoring when left unmarked at the top of the circle. Suburbs midfielders Tenga Rangitauira and Jeff Rosemergy slowly gained ascendancy and controlled the pace of the game well whilst Ian Haste and goalkeeper Justin Butcher tidied up well in defense to keep the students scoreless in the first half.
University stand out player James Hawley equalised from a low drag flicked PC after a period of sustained attacking pressure. Suburbs lost Haste for a period after he was unluckily felled by a deflected clearance and in his absence Varsity looked more dangerous on attack and only poor finishing options prevented them from taking the lead.
Poor communication by Varsity’s defense saw goalie Chris Lawry leave a deflected cross to gift Suburbs Christian Vermuelen the lead.
Suburbs regained territorial dominance with a patched up Haste returning to control his defense and Luke Forbes gave his side a winning advantage with a deft flick over Lawry from a PC rebound. Chris Marr gave the Varsity supporters a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes with a well executed reverse strike but the students couldn’t re-breach Suburbs sound defenses.
Coach Ian Williams conceded that his side had made too many errors and Suburbs deserved their 3-2 victory and a place in the finals. They will play Hamilton Old Boys in two weeks for the Hooper Cup after Old Boys staged a stunning second half display to down Fraser Tech 5-3.

Old Boys Coach Wayne Cording admitted his sides’ slow starts may be more costly in the final but was impressed with his young chargers in the mature manner they wiped out the 1-3 early second half deficit to win. Tech’s Mitai-Wells brothers Owen and Te Hai had earlier given their side a 2-1 first half lead with well taken goals. Darren Luckin increased the lead with a simple tap in before Old Boys revival began.
Gareth Nuzem converted from a low drag flick and Ben Bartels equalised after some excellent midfield interpassing. Joel Finn started the goal of the day when showing good pace defending a PC to dispossess Grant Goile and send a long ball up the left flank for youngsters Michael Petherick and Bartels to set up Fraser Kilgour who made no mistake from close range and added to his first half acute angled first half goal. Petherick sealed the win for Old Boys with a clinically struck rising shot.

In the women’s semi finals University demolished Te Awamutu 9-1 and Fraser Tech were equally clinical in downing Valley United 6-0. Cathryn Finlayson and Lymarah Wharerau had given the students a 2 nil half time lead but a flurry of second half goals to Finlayson, Wharerau, Shannon Cochrane, Clarissa Eshuis, J.B., and Megan Brink (2) signaled a warning that the students have the fire power to end Tech’s unblemished winning record.
Tech’s Debbie Bell was in fine form in netting four of her sides’ goals with Rita Schooley and Lee Millar completing the scoring.