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Intercity Women 'A' Division:
Eastside University 1 (K. Morgan) v Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu 1 (R.
Hurihuranganui);
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 9 (D. Bell 4, B. Hutchinson 3, H. Riini 2) v
Rotorua Aces 1;
Old Girls 2 (E. Jensen 2) v Tokoroa 1;
Mount Maunganui 3 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 3.

Intercity Men 'A' Division:
Suburbs-Piako 2 (B. Sanders, K. Sanders) v Otumoetai 1 (A. Bigham);
Kohekohe 2 v Old Boys 1;
Eastside University 0 v Pukekohe Indians 0;
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 11 (D. Luckin 4, N. Connolly 3, L. Hammond 2,
R. Petherick, G. Goile) v Mount Maunganui 0.
Dick Morgan reports... File Photo: University Goalie, Debbie Howe
Date: 28-07-2002
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Throughout this season the under-dog has prevailed in both Men's and Women's Hockey at least once each week, and Saturday was no exception. At the Gallagher Hockey Centre it happened in the women's game between Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu and Ultimate University, when the teams drew 1-1, and in the game following Suburbs-Piako upset Otumoetai 2-1 to keep their top four hopes alive.

In other Women's fixtures Old Girls edged out Tokoroa 2-1 and at the Mount Onewhero-Pukekohe and Mount Maunganui drew 3-3. In Rotorua Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech revealed a talent of the future in thirteen year old Debbie Bell, who scored four goals in her teams 9-1 drubbing of Rotorua Aces. In other Men's games Kohekohe upset Old Boys 2-1 in Pukekohe, Eastside University surprised by being held to a scoreless draw by lowly ranked Pukekohe Indians in Hamilton, and Fraser Tech piled on the goals in the second half to thrash a hapless Mount Maunganui 11-0.

Te Awamutu Women gained a huge territorial advantage early in their game against University, and placed a lot of pressure on the opening quarter of the game. After resisting countless attacks on their circle University managed to string some passes together and eventually a penalty corner was forced, which was wide of the mark. Te Awamutu were not in defence for long at this stage, and they threatened when Whetu Hamahona found space and linked with Maria Dunn and Michele Whitehead to take play to the University circle to force a penalty corner which goalkeeper Debi Howe saved to set up a counter-attack which Te Awamutu nullified.

Around this stage Te Awamutu lost major play maker Helen Tooman with a leg injury, and with her out of the match they lost many of their attacking options.

University capitalised and from a penalty corner Kylie Morgan hit in a straight shot to open the scoring. This caused Te Awamutu to respond with more urgency, and Dunn executed a great dribble to the goal, but University were able to clear. The constant pressure from Te Awamutu however eventually told on Varsity when Renee Hurihuranganui scored a few minutes before half time to equalise.

University applied more pressure in the second spell, but the experience of the Te Awamutu players was instrumental in the attacks being kept out. Te Awamutu then returned the attacks, and the play ebbed and flowed at quite a pace as each side strived for that goal to break the deadlock. University forced a penalty corner which Morgan shot into the goal, but was disallowed because the ball had not been stopped properly prior to the shot.

Te Awamutu looked to have created the elusive opportunity when three players descended on the Varsity circle, but the ball was miraculously cleared for the students to set up a final counter attack, but a diving Karina Chatfield missed when trying to retrieve the ball before it rolled across the back-line. The game ended shortly afterward with University taking one point to remain in the top four along with Fraser Tech, Te Awamutu and Old Girls.

RESULTS:

Intercity Women 'A' Division:
Eastside University 1 (K. Morgan) v Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu 1 (R.
Hurihuranganui);
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 9 (D. Bell 4, B. Hutchinson 3, H. Riini 2) v
Rotorua Aces 1;
Old Girls 2 (E. Jensen 2) v Tokoroa 1;
Mount Maunganui 3 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 3.

Intercity Men 'A' Division:
Suburbs-Piako 2 (B. Sanders, K. Sanders) v Otumoetai 1 (A. Bigham);
Kohekohe 2 v Old Boys 1;
Eastside University 0 v Pukekohe Indians 0;
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 11 (D. Luckin 4, N. Connolly 3, L. Hammond 2,
R. Petherick, G. Goile) v Mount Maunganui 0.