Dick Morgan reports...
Ex Blackstick Robyn Matthews nails a penalty corner for Fraser Tech.
Dick Morgan reports... |
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Ex Blackstick Robyn Matthews nails a penalty corner for Fraser Tech.
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| Date: 18-08-2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The top four in Men's and Women's Hockey were confirmed on Saturday after Intercity play at the Gallagher Hockey Centre. Following Saturday's results in Women's hockey, Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech, Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu, Old Girls and Ultimate University advanced to the semi-finals with Fraser Tech likely to be one finalist. While the other semi-final between Te Awamutu and Old Girls should prove to be a much closer affair. On Saturday Fraser Tech's two second half goals gave them a 3-1 win over Old Girls, University held on to 2-2 draw with Tokoroa, after gaining a 2-0 advantage early in the game, and in Pukekohe Te Awamutu beat Onewhero-Pukekohe 2-0. In Rotorua, Aces beat Mount Maunganui 3-2. In Men's hockey, Old Boy's confirmed their top four place by convincingly winning 6-0 over Pukekohe Indians to join Fraser Tech, Eastside University, and Otumoetai in the semi-finals. University edged out Suburbs-Piako 2-1, Otumoetai held out title contenders Fraser Tech 2-1, and Kohekohe defaulted to Mount Maunganui. The match between Fraser Tech and Old Girls began with both teams striving for an early ascendancy as they attacked both circles. However the defensive efforts of the sides prevented any penetration. After Old Girls had produced a strong attack on the right side a penalty corner was forced, but Tech cleared and counter-attacked and a strong shot by Robyn Polley was cleared by Old Girls keeper Sheryl Lacy, but from a penalty corner shortly afterward Bryonie Hutchinson opened the scoring for Fraser Tech. Old Girls came back, and dominated possession for a time but Tech were able to shut down the attacks. Old Girls received a penalty corner and a strong shot by Emma Jensen hit the post, which lead to a rush for the ball and in the ensuing scramble Sue Rawcliffe equalised for Old Girls right on half time. The second half continued at an even pace, until Robyn Matthews nailed a penalty corner for Tech to regain the lead. But Old Girls were not to be out done and managed to take play to the Tech circle where a penalty corner was kept out. From a strong shot from Old Girls the ball smashed into the cross bar, and appeared to go into the top of the net, but no goal was awarded. There was conjecture as to whether the ball deflected off a stick, but Tech managed to clear and a strong Matthew shot was deflected wide by Lacy, and Tech continued to pressurise the defence until Holly Riini scored to extend Tech's lead. Old Girls attacked briefly with Jensen threatening in the circle, but the Tech defence were equal to the occasion. Tech then broke away and the attack diminished any real hope of an Old Girls comeback and were attacking when full time sounded. RESULTS: Intercity Men: Eastside University 2 (D. Burns, J. Bishop) v Suburbs-Piako 1 (D. Bell); Otumoetai 2 v Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 1; Old Boys 6 (P. Rae 3, A. Burkhart 2, A. Singers) v Pukekohe Indians 0; Mount Maunganui won by default from Kohekohe. Intercity Women: Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 3 (B. Hutchinson, R. Matthews, H. Riini) v Old Girls 1 (S. Rawcliffe); Ultimate University 2 (C. Bayliss, J. Overmire) v Tokoroa 2; Aces 3 v Mount Maunganui 2; Te Awamutu 2 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 0. |