Dick Morgan reports...
Date: 16.9.02

For so long the bridesmaids of Waikato Women's Hockey, Rose & Thorn Te Awamutu finally broke that barrel when they beat Boots N' All Fraser Tech 3:2 in a stirring final to the Championship on Sunday at the Gallagher Hockey Centre.

In the opening stanzas Fraser Tech applied much pressure which Te Awamutu struggled to hold, and Tech's early dominance was rewarded when Bryonie Hutchinson drove through some lack lustre defence to pass to Debbie Bell who opened the scoring. But Te Awamutu came back to create some attaching plays of their own, and the equaliser came when a Penalty Corner was forced and from a scramble in the goal-mouth Renee Hurihuranganui scored. Play fluctuated between both teams after the equaliser andthreatening positions were created by both teams. Just prior to the interval, Sue Hill and Maria Dunn set up a great passing rush, a goal looked likely until Tech keeper Candy Hart made a great save to keep the score level. Tech were quickly on to the attack early in the second spell, and Bell was on hand to regain the lead for Tech.

From this point, Fraser Tech appeared to be gaining an ascendancy by putting passes together, which caused problems for the Te Awamutu defence. However, Te Awamutu re-grouped, and were able to reply with their own pressure and after a Penalty Corner, Whetu Hamahona slammed in the equaliser. With their new found confidence, Te Awamutu were able to maintain more possession, and they were rewarded when Janelle Abbott scored to give Te Awamutu the lead for the first time in the game. Tech came back and forced two Penalty Corners, and great goalkeeping by Sarah McKenzie kept the attacks out.

In one of their last forays into the Te Awamutu circle, Fraser Tech virtually had the ball across the line, but a great goal-line save by Hill saved the day for Te Awamutu. There was time for Tech to force one last Penalty Corner, but that shot went wide, and Tech were left to rue their lost opportunity.