26th August 2007

Top seeded The Cook University were made to struggle for a finals berth when playing a plucky Valley United side in the first of the Men’s Intercity semi finals on Saturday.
Black Stick Lloyd Stevenson gave the visitors a perfect start with two well taken PC conversions to silence the hot favourite’s partisan crowd. Varsity’s Craig Hardman converted a drag flicked PC to reduce the half time deficit to one but the more committed Valley side continued to pressure the students into uncharacteristic errors. Morice McMillan scored a soft equaliser from an acutely angled push and Tony Hopping salvaged a finals spot with a well taken field goal. Both sides were missing some key players but the Valley side bolstered their ranks with four very talented age group rep players.

Hamilton Old Boys were more comfortable in dispatching the challenge of The Riv Suburbs in the other semi final and led 2 nil at the break through goals to Paul Rae and Marc Carney. Suburbs pegged one goal back early into the second half through Aaron Barnsdall but in an effort to press for the equaliser their defence turned over easy possession which Rae and Carney again each took advantage of to win 4-1.

In the women’s semi’s both top seeded Avenue Storage University and 2nd seeded Tauranga United were narrowly beaten by Te Awamutu and Rotorua Aces respectively. In the ABN AMRO-Craigs match of the day, a depleted Te Awamutu defensive line up coped admirably against the formidable Varsity strike force. A sole effort by Lymarah Wharerau gave the students the half time lead but veteran playmaker Robbie Matthews equalised in the second half from a PC rebound to force the game into a penalty shootout which they won 3-1. Matthews paid tribute to the efforts of the younger members of her squad as they played with maturity and composure beyond their years.

Donna Kearney and Christy Knowles both scored first half goals to give Rotorua Aces a winning advantage. Gemma Flynn replied for Tauranga who now play off for 3rd against University next week whilst Aces will host Te Awamutu in the final.

Upsets were the order of the day in the 2nd Division semi’s with top seeds Kohekohe being defeated 1-2 by 4th placed Papakura and 2nd seeded 2nd Division womens side Taupo were beaten on strokes by Central BOP. In playoff matches Fraser Tech men and women both posted victories over Rotorua Indians 4-3 and Papakura 6-0 respectively. Debbie Bell scored a hat trick for Tech women whilst Grant Goile converted twice to ensure a match up against Mt Maunganui next week. Southern United who struggled to a 2-1 win over Valley United with second half goals to Sophie Irvine will play Tech women for 5th and 6th.
Vaughan Hiltons Points Tables including Semi’s Results updated as at 25 Aug

FOR THE RECORD
PREMIER MEN
Semi Finals:
The Riv Suburbs Piako 1 (Aaron Barnsdall) lost to Hamilton Old Boys 4 (Paul Rae 2, Marc Carney 2), HT 0-2;
The Cook University 3 (Craig Hardman, Morice McMillan, Tony Hopping) beat Valley United 2 (Lloyd Stevenson 2), HT 1-2;
For 5th-8th:
Fraser Tech 4 (Darren Luckin, Owen Mitai-Wells, Grant Goile 2) beat Rotorua Indians 3 (Prasant Dhaji, Vipil Moragy, B Cima) HT 2-2;
Mt Maunganui 5 (Garth Moran 2, Logan Thompson, Kieran Fry, Ryan Steward) beat Cosmopolitan Otumoetai 2 (Manu Singh, Craig Fowler) HT 2-1.

PREMIER WOMEN
Semi Finals:
Avenue Storage University 1 (Lymarah Wharerau) lost to Te Awamutu 1 (Robbie Matthews) 1-3 on strokes, HT 1-0;
Rotorua Aces 2 (Donna Keaney, Christy Knowles) beat Tauranga United 1 (Gemma Flynn), HT 2-0 (played Friday).
For 5th-8th:
Fraser Tech 6(Debbie Bell 3, Amy Williams 2, Nicky Pearce) beat Papakura 0, HT 3-0,
Southern United 2 (Sophie Irvine 2) beat Valley United 1 (Rhiann Keightley), HT 0-0.

RESERVE MEN
Semi Finals:
Tauranga Old Boys 6 (Paul Davidson 2, Cameron Keogh 2, Vaughan Elmiger, Mark Page) beat Pukekohe Indians 2, HT 3-1, Kohekohe 1 lost to Papakura 2.

RESERVE WOMEN
Semi Finals:
Onewhero-Pukekohe 10 beat Pukekohe 0, HT 4-0, Taupo 3 lost to Central BOP 3 2-4 on strokes, HT 1-0;

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