Date: 25 - 08 - 2002
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Old Girls will meet Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech, and Eastside University play Fraser Tech in the respective Women's and Men's Intercity Hockey finals next weekend following semi-final action at the Gallagher Hockey Centre on Saturday. The women's semi-finals saw Old Girls upset the fancied Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu team 1-0, and title favourites Fraser Tech beat Ultimate University 3-0. In the men's semi-finals Fraser Tech beat Otumoetai 2-1, and University ended Old Boys' great run into the semi- finals with a 6-0 win.
In the play off from fifth to eighth places Tokoroa women beat Bayleys Bar Mount 1-0 which will confirm their 'A' Division status in next year's Intercity, while the equivalent game in the men's division resulted in Mount Maunganui beating a very disappointing Suburbs-Piako 4-3, after the local team had led 2-0 at half-time. Suburbs who have been on a down-hill slide in recent times have to win next week to avoid the challenge from the 'B' Division for next season's competition.
In the first women's semi-final Te Awamutu attacked from the outset and forced an early penalty corner which was cleared for Old Girls to counter attack, and the Te Awamutu defence were called on to keep out some promising attacks. Te Awamutu then strung some passes together and found Michele Whitehead, who set off on a great dribbling run to the circle, which led to an infringement by Old Girls but the resulting penalty corner was kept out. Te Awamutu continued to pressurise and yet another penalty corner was successfully defended. Before half-time Te Awamutu had one last foray into the Old Girls circle but a strong shot was deflected wide of the goal by Old Girls Keeper Sheryl Lacy. Te Awamutu were still attacking when half time sounded with the teams still scoreless.
Te Awamutu started the second spell as they had ended the first by pounding the Old Girls defence and Maria Dunn looked dangerous when she threatened the circle. Old Girls were able to re-organise their defence and through Sue Rawcliffe began to feed their potentially dangerous attacking forwards, Nerolly McTamney and Melanie Yule. When Yule took the ball into the circle and forced two penalty corners the alarm bells started ringing in the Te Awamutu camp and from another penalty corner Yule scored what was to be the game's only goal.
With the one goal advantage Old Girls began to gain more confidence and Te Awamutu had to work hard to keep out more attacks. But with time running out Te Awamutu came back into the game and took the attack to Old Girls. Old Girls however resisted these attacks by long clearing hits deep into Te Awamutu territory. Time eventually ran out for Te Awamutu, and Old Girls were attacking at the finish to set up a promising final with Fraser Tech next Saturday.
RESULTS:
Men's Semi-finals:
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 2 v Otumoetai 1;
Eastside University 6 v Old Boys 0.
5th to 8th Play-off:
Bayleys Bar Mount 4 v Suburbs-Piako 3
Women's Semi-finals:
Old Girls 1 (M. Yule) v Rose and Thorn Te Awamutu 0;
Boots 'N' All Fraser Tech 3 v Ultimate University 0.
5th to 8th Play-offs:
Tokoroa 1 v Bayleys Bar Mount 0;
Aces 5 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 1.
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