9th June 2008

The Men’s Hooper Cup final played Saturday between Hamilton Old Boys and The RIV Suburbs Piako turned into a high scoring thriller with Suburbs eventually prevailing 6-4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The win secured a rare clean sweep of Men’s 1st round competition wins for the club after their Reserve Grade and the 3rd Division “Pastit’s” team finished 1st after round one with the latter earning promotion into the Reserve Grade.

Suburbs grabbed the early initiative when some excellent lead up work by rising star Matthew Reese-Gibbs put Aaron Barnsdall into space. Barnsdall showed a cool head to round Old Boys keeper Chris Kaan to slot home the opening goal. Old Boys replied from the first PC of the game with Ben Bartels pouncing on a rebounded save. Midfielder Reese-Gibbs showed a touch of class to pivot and score from the edge of the circle to regain the lead. Suburbs gained some territorial ascendancy as the half wore on and were rewarded when Hayden Ripia converted. Bartels again replied minutes from the break but Old Boys briefly lost concentration from the restart allowing Ian Haste to send a superbly weighted pass to set Reese-Gibbs free to set up a simple layoff for Christian Vermuelen to tap in for a 4-2 half time lead.
Bartels completed his hat trick mid way through a see sawing second spell to reduce Old Boy’s deficit but once again concentration lapses in defence gifted Suburbs back their 2-goal advantage with Barnsdall snapping up the chance. Chris Pearce converted a drag flicked PC to set up a frenetic finish to the final with both sides fiercely contesting mid field possession.
Suburbs sealed the 6-4 win seconds from time when Matt Luxford converted a clever PC variation to win the Hooper Cup for Suburbs. Bartels was the pick of the Tech players whilst Tenga Rangitauira, Ian Haste and man of the match Matthew Reese-Gibbs shone.

In the playoff for 3rd and 4th University CBD led 3-1 at half time over Fraser Tech eventually prevailing 5-2. James Hawley, Sam Broadbent, Raynesh Smith, Tony Hopping, and Felix Wild all scoring for the students whilst E. Savage (2) replied for Tech.

The women’s final between previously unbeaten Fraser Tech and a rejuvenated Avenue Storage University turned into a game of two halves.

The students raced to a 3-0 advantage after just 20mins with Clarissa Eshuis converting back-to-back PC’s and NZ U21 Maori rep Ashleigh Maguren tapping in from close range. Although dominating territory and possession, Varsity lost stucture in the midfield during the second half and failed to breach the Tech defences again in the match with goalkeeper Candy Hart in inspirational form. Tech staged a comeback with a Rosie Carr high rising reverse lob over keeper Megan Leach and then a trademark Debbie Bell reverse hit strike to set up a nail biting final few minutes.
Varsity found attack the best form of defence and camped themselves in Tech territory for the closing minutes to hold on for a deserved 3-2.
Standouts for Tech were Kim Green and Candy Hart, whilst Varsity’s Shannon Cochrane, Cathryn Finlayson, Jemma Overmire and Eshuis starred.

In the playoff for 3rd and 4th Te Awamutu downed Valley United 3-1 with Te Awamutu’s Sophie Irvine, Kirsty Sclater, and Jennah Terlesk scoring and Valley’s J Fisher replying.