 Dick Morgan reports... |
RESULTS 3 May:
Intercity Men “A” Division: Eastside University 7 (M McMillan 2, H O’Neill, P Dahya, J Bishop, G Singh B Bellamy) v Papakura 1 (R Hook) Kohekohe 2 v Hamilton Old Boys 2 Mt Maunganui 5 v Otumoetai 4 Intercity Women “A” Division: Rotorua Aces 5 (K Craggs 2, D Keaney, H Wright, P Rangitauira) v Hamilton Old Girls 3 (M Yule, J McQuinn, K Carson) Te Awamutu 4 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 0 Fraser Tech 3 v Mount Maunganui 0 |
 |
| 30 photos of days play | ||
| Richard Morgan, Waikato Hockey. 10-05-2003 _____________________________________________________________________________ Old Girls not holding on to the ball, defensive lapses in the first half, and the failure to capitalise on penalty corner opportunities cost them dearly on Saturday at the Gallagher Hockey Centre, when they went down 5-3 to a Rotorua Aces side determined to get off to a winning start in the Intercity Club Hockey Competition. While in the Men’s Intercity, Eastside University overcame a slow start against Papakura to win 7-1 after the teams were locked at 1-1 at half-time. Aces dominated possession and territory from the start against Old Girls, and it was only going to be a matter of time when they confirmed their domination. Aces were stringing nice passes together and when they were called upon to defend, they were able to stem any attack the locals tried to launch. Aces opened the scoring after ten minutes when Donna Keaney slotted a penalty corner, and when Harina Wright scored from a runaway five minutes later, the sighs looked ominous for Old Girls. Old Girls tried to get back into the game and following some strong attacking forced a penalty corner, but Katrina Carson’s attempt struck the cross-bar. However Old Girls came back and when Melanie Yule found space in the circle to score and reduce the deficit, a revival seemed imminent. Aces had other ideas and shortly before half-time Kylie Craggs increased the lead at a penalty corner, and there was more gloom to follow for Old Girls when Pirihita Rangitauira latched on to an opportunity to enable Aces to go to the break with a 4-1 advantage. Old Girls appeared to be a different team in the second half, as they attacked early to force a penalty corner from which Carson’s shot was deflected wide. Although the Old Girls attacks were becoming more co-ordinated, they were still lacking in circle penetration. After another Carson penalty corner shot was cleared, she managed to regain possession to dribble through and feed Jessie McQuinn who netted to bring some respectability to the score. A successful penalty corner from Carson for Old Girls made Aces looked more concerned and more urgent in their play, and were rewarded when Craggs hit in a strong shot from a penalty corner, which put the game beyond Old Girls’ reach with full-time sounding minutes later. University began their match with Papakura in strong fashion but could not finish off, and this caused panic in their ranks to the effect that the visitors were able to intercept some wayward passing which resulted in Ray Hook scoring. Varsity were turning over too much ball, and the game was meandering along with no pattern evolving from either side. There was some ray of hope developing for Varsity when centre half, Hamish O’Neill passed to Maurice McMillan who slotted the equaliser a minute from half-time. Varsity came into the second spell with much more efficient passing and O’Neill was rewarded for his efforts by scoring to give his team the lead for the first time in the match. University then really applied the pressure and Pradip Dahya and Jared Bishop scored to put the game beyond Papakura’s reach. Galih Singh then began to cut his way through the Papakura defence and scored as Varsity began to regain some of their form of previous seasons. The second half domination by Varsity was completed when Brad Bellamy scored from a penalty corner, and McMillan scored his second for their team to run out comfortable winners. In Men’s games at other venues, Kohekohe and Hamilton Old Boys’ drew 2-2 in Pukekohe, and Mount Maunganui surprised all by upsetting Otumoetai 5-4 at the Mount. In Women’s games, Te Awamutu beat Onewhero-Pukekohe 4-0 in Pukekohe, and Fraser Tech beat Mount Maunganui 3-0 at the Mount. RESULTS: Intercity Men “A” Division: Eastside University 7 (M McMillan 2, H O’Neill, P Dahya, J Bishop, G Singh B Bellamy) v Papakura 1 (R Hook) Kohekohe 2 v Hamilton Old Boys 2 Mt Maunganui 5 v Otumoetai 4 Intercity Women “A” Division: Rotorua Aces 5 (K Craggs 2, D Keaney, H Wright, P Rangitauira) v Hamilton Old Girls 3 (M Yule, J McQuinn, K Carson) Te Awamutu 4 v Onewhero-Pukekohe 0 Fraser Tech 3 v Mount Maunganui 0 |
||