 Dick Morgan reports... |
RESULTS 30th August:
RESULTS: Intercity Men’s Final – “A” Division: University 3 (T Hopping 2, B Bellamy) v Suburbs –Piako 1 (K Sanders) 3rd / 4th Fraser Tech 2 v Otumoetai 1 Intercity Women’s Final – “A” Division: Te Awamutu 4 (M Whitehead 2, R Matthews, J Carter) v University 1 (C Eshuis) 3rd/4th Old Girls 2 v Southern United 1 Intercity Women’s Final – “B” Division: Bradley’s Bunch 2 v Te Awamutu Blue 1 |
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| photos courtesy of Rod Laurence | photos by Peter Cawkwell | |
| INTERCITY FINALS – 30.08.03 Richard Morgan “The Cook” University and Te Awamutu wrapped up the Men’s and Women’s Intercity titles at the Gallagher Hockey Centre on Saturday, by beating Ecolab Suburbs 3-1 and Ultimate University 4-1 respectively. Both teams pressed early in the Men’s game as they looked for ascendancy, with University looking the more dangerous , but Suburbs, with Justin Butcher making some great saves in goal, and Ian Morgan ruthless in defence, were able to keep the attacks out. Varsity went close in the opening stanza when Matthew Stafford sent in a stinging shot at a Penalty Corner, which crashed into the cross-bar. University continued to pound the Suburbs circle, and following a strong build-up, Varsity’s Galih Singh put a strong pass to Luke Emerson who was free in the circle, but Butcher was equal to the task. After absorbing much pressure, Suburbs broke away, and began to string some passes together, with Ian Haste setting up attacks to cause concern in the University camp. Suburbs finally forced a penalty corner, which Karl Sanders scored from for Suburbs to lead against the run of play. With new found confidence, Suburbs continued to pressure the students, but the ever efficient Dean Armstrong in goal had no trouble saving and clearing. Late in the spell, Suburbs forced three penalty corners, which were kept out. Suburbs were trying to dribble close to the goal, where an early shot may have proved advantageous. With a one goal deficit going into the second half, University forced two early penalty corners with no addition to the score. The equaliser eventually came after Emerson had slammed the ball into Butcher’s pads, Stafford’s rebound shot cleared the goal, and after the restart, Tony Hopping latched onto the ball to open Varsity’s score. University continued to apply pressure, which Suburbs withstood, but after Armstrong had repulsed a Suburbs attack, Varsity put in a strong build-up to force a penalty corner, which Captain Brad Bellamy put away for University to take the lead for the first time in the game. Still Suburbs did not give up, and John Forbes went close following a rush to the circle, but a free hit relieved the pressure. Suburbs tried to bring the game back to even terms, but there was no way through a packed defence. In one of Suburbs last forays, Ross Tritt was wide with his shot which proved to be his team’s last throw of the dice. The game was sealed, when Te Rau Brown sent a strong pass to Hopping who scored, with full time sounding soon after. A feature of the Women’s final, was the emergence of up and coming umpire, Chris Neal, who was rewarded for his consistent performances through the season by being allocated the game along with the more experienced Andrew Clarke. Te Awamutu were expectedly on to the offensive early in the game, but University, having to go into the game without chief playmaker, Kylie Morgan through injury, managed to stave off the attacks. Varsity had a ray of hope when Clarissa Eshuis broke away and her team were able to force a penalty corner which Te Awamutu saved. After this pressure, Te Awamutu regrouped and pounded the University circle but goal-keeper, Debi Howe, was able to clear. The game had evened out slightly by the time a scoreless first half ended. In the second half, Te Awamutu’s Maria Dunn, broke into the circle, but Howe was equal to the task. However, the pressure soon proved to be too much and from a Penalty Corner, Robyn Matthews opened the scoring. This was the catalyst for Te Awamutu to launch more attack, and when Jenny Carter scored, the game was realistically beyond University’s reach. Te Awamutu continued to dominate, and after Michele Whitehead had scored twice, it appeared the game would continue in a one horse race, but it was University who scored from a penalty corner which was awarded on the hooter, for Eshuis to score. In the third and fourth playoffs, Lonestar Fraser Tech beat Otumoetai 2-1 in the men’s game, and Old Girls ended their disappointing week by prevailing 2-1 over Southern United. RESULTS: Intercity Men’s Final – “A” Division: University 3 (T Hopping 2, B Bellamy) v Suburbs –Piako 1 (K Sanders) 3rd / 4th Fraser Tech 2 v Otumoetai 1 Intercity Women’s Final – “A” Division: Te Awamutu 4 (M Whitehead 2, R Matthews, J Carter) v University 1 (C Eshuis) 3rd/4th Old Girls 2 v Southern United 1 Intercity Women’s Final – “B” Division: Bradley’s Bunch 2 v Te Awamutu Blue 1 |
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