Vaughan Reports...
Week 1 - Mens Prem Hockey begins

Fraser Tech’s off season work in gaining the services of Hymie Gill as coaching director have paid off with several high calibre acquisitions into their Premier Men’s team playing roster. Most notably NZ Junior reps Hugo Inglis and Nick Ross have moved from Otago, former Midlands goalkeeper Craig Armstrong has returned from overseas and Ryan Emirali from North Harbour. Tech also gained the services of promising juniors in Zac Woods and Kyle Westerman from Hamilton Old Boys.

Old Boys gained three other exciting junior prospects in Lloyd McLaughlin, Orin Lockyer and Jamie Kane.

Varsity has acquired Tom Lysart from Valley United and Prasant Dharijee from Rotorua.

Clarissa Eshuis has joined Suburbs Piako and will use the Premier Men’s competition to hone her skills after recently being recalled to the Black Sticks squad. Her debut in the Men’s competition was challenging with her depleted Suburbs side well beaten by a less than full strength Fraser Tech.

Excellent inter passing between the Tech forwards saw Matt Orr open the scoring. Suburbs immediately replied when Auke Idema finished off an equally well worked forward move. Owen Mitai –Wells regained Tech’s lead reacting well to an excellent umpiring advantage given by Bevan Nichol. Jeram Clulow restored parity for Suburbs before Zac Woods turned the Suburbs defence inside out to create space and slot home from the top of the circle on the stroke of half time. Tech took a strangle hold on the game early in the second spell with goals to Mitai-Wells and Orr and Mitai-Wells completed his hat trick from close range. Aaron Clulow scored a late consolation for Suburbs but was well beaten 3-6. With Tech’s recent imports yet to play they look to be the side to beat this year.

Varsity and Old Boys slugged out a 2 all draw in an error ridden game. Both teams were depleted through injury and unavailability with Old Boy’s Lloyd McLaughlin proving elusive in opening the scoring. Varsity’s Tim Ranchodbhai found himself in space to round the Old Boys keeper but Brendon Harland reacted quickest during a PC breakdown to give his Old Boys side a 2-1 half time advantage. Scoring options were poorly taken during the second half and Varsity equalised minutes from full time when Will Harding scored in his Premier debut. Players to stand out in the weekend’s games were Tech’s keeper Craig Armstrong, Woods and Mitai-Wells, Old Boys Lloyd McLaughlin, Varsity’s James Hawley and Suburbs Eshuis & Idema.