 Dick Morgan reports... |
RESULTS 27 July:
Intercity Men ‘A’ Division: Suburbs 4 v Kohekohe 3 Otumoetai 6 v Papakura 2 Fraser Tech 4 (J Rickard, T Smith, W Phillips, A Darke) v Mount Maunganui 1 (A Pratt) University 5 v Old Boys 2 Intercity Women ‘A’ Division: University 2 (A Morgan 2) v Aces 1 (D Kearney) Te Awamutu 4 v Southern United 1 Fraser Tech 5 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 1 Old Girls 3 v Mount Maunganui 1 |
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| 27 – 07 –2003 There were no surprises in the Intercity Women’s hockey competition on Saturday when all teams expected to win did so, but Ultimate University certainly made the going tough in their game with Rotorua Aces at the Gallagher Hockey Centre, before recording a 2-1 win. In other women’s games in Hamilton, Hamilton Old Girls beat Mount Maunganui 3-1, and Te Awamutu showed too much experience in downing Southern United 4-1. In Pukekohe, Fraser Tech prevailed over Onewhero-Pukekohe 5-1. In Men’s Intercity hockey Ecolab Suburbs-Piako travelled to Pukekohe, where they edged out Kohekohe 4-3, Lonestar Fraser Tech beat Mount Maunganui 4-1 at the Mount, while in Hamilton The Cook University came back from being 2-0 down early in the game against Hamilton Old Boys to score five goals in the second half and to win 5-2. In the remaining game Otumoetai beat the young Papakura team 6-2. When a team enjoys vast amounts of possession they should expect a comfortable win, but this was not the case when University enjoyed most of the possession against Aces. From the opening stanzas it was all University as they continuously harassed the Aces defence without managing any circle penetration. When a strong shot was sent toward the Aces goal it appeared the game breaker had occurred, but the ball struck the post and when a penalty corner was missed alarm bells started to sound in the University camp. However the persistence was rewarded when Alyse Morgan sent home a hard shot to open the scoring. After absorbing much of the pressure Aces then began to put pressure on the locals and forced a penalty corner, but the opportunity was wasted. Aces desperately tried to equalise before half-time, but were unable to capitalise on the opportunities presented due to solid defence from Kay Barnett. University continued to pound the Aces defence as half time sounded. The second spell was a continuation of the first with the students pressing to increase their advantage. However Aces put in a strong counter attack, and the equaliser looked like coming after all the University field players were beaten but goal-keeper, Debi Howe, saved the day when she deflected the ball wide when the shot was sent in. Varsity soon regained possession and a strong build-up lead to Clarissa Eshuis driving into the circle to fire in a hard shot, which lead to a melee in the circle and resulted in a penalty corner. It was only a matter of time before Varsity increased their narrow lead and this occurred when Morgan netted her second. Aces still refused to give up and were rewarded when Donna Kearney scored to reduce the deficit. There was no further scoring but the game still went to the wire with Aces having another shot at goal which was again saved by Howe. Although the final margin was only one goal, University should have been away from all threats of losing by having an unassailable lead at half time. Results: Intercity Men ‘A’ Division: Suburbs 4 v Kohekohe 3 Otumoetai 6 v Papakura 2 Fraser Tech 4 (J Rickard, T Smith, W Phillips, A Darke) v Mount Maunganui 1 (A Pratt) University 5 v Old Boys 2 Intercity Women ‘A’ Division: University 2 (A Morgan 2) v Aces 1 (D Kearney) Te Awamutu 4 v Southern United 1 Fraser Tech 5 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 1 Old Girls 3 v Mount Maunganui 1 |
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