Waikato U15 Team:
Anneliese Geursen, Lymarah Wharerau, Michelle Petherick, Lisa Peden, Chelsea Paddy, Julia Macaskill, Clarissa Eshuis (Capt.), Maggie Rota, Jemma Overmire, Emma Neal, Rachel Smith, Greer Cliff, Debbie Bell, Michelle MacLachlan, Morgan Tuhou, Elizabeth Holmes.
Hans Geursen (Coach),
SueHanson-Smith (Manager).
Anneliese Geursen, Lymarah Wharerau, Michelle Petherick, Lisa Peden, Chelsea Paddy, Julia Macaskill, Clarissa Eshuis (Capt.), Maggie Rota, Jemma Overmire, Emma Neal, Rachel Smith, Greer Cliff, Debbie Bell, Michelle MacLachlan, Morgan Tuhou, Elizabeth Holmes.
Hans Geursen (Coach),
SueHanson-Smith (Manager).
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Otago and Waikato shared the National Under 15 Girls Hockey title after drawing 1-1 in the final on Saturday at the Gallagher Hockey Centre inHamilton.
In the best weather conditions of the week long tournament, Otago attacked from the start and looked threatening when they went straight through the middle of the field, before Waikato were able to clear. The locals were placed under considerable pressure, but did manage to cause concern in the Otago camp when a hard shot flew over the top of the goal. Otago's passing and ball retention skills were instrumental in creating a huge territorial advantage which was capitalised on when Jennifer Howell opened the scoring for the visitors after she scrambled the ball into the net. There remained time in the first spell for Waikato to force a penalty corner, but the Otago defence cleared comfortably.
In the second spell Waikato Coach Hans Geursen made some positional changes with Rachel Smith going to the left side and Lymarah Wharerau to the right, which strengthened their attacking options, and from this the locals spent a large proportion of the half camped in the Otago circle. Debbie Bell was just wide with a strong shot, but although Waikato attacked relentlessly in the circle, the Otago defence held firm and Waikato were frustrated in their attempts to break through. Bell was close again for Waikato before Wharerau's shot went wide from yet another penalty corner. Another variation at a penalty corner resulted in a hard shot from Bell, but again the ball went wide.
As the game headed for its close it appeared Waikato would have to settle for runners-up when yet another penalty corner was awarded and National Under 16 Academy player, Clarissa Eshuis who lead the side superbly through the week justifiably slammed in the equaliser to take a share in the title. The first equal placing is the highest achieved at a national hockey tournament by a Waikato female age group team.
Waikato Team:
Anneliese Geursen, Lymarah Wharerau, Michelle Petherick, Lisa Peden,
Chelsea Paddy, Julia Macaskill, Clarissa Eshuis (Capt.), Maggie Rota, Jemma
Overmire, Emma Neal, Rachel Smith, Greer Cliff, Debbie Bell, Michelle
MacLachlan, Morgan Tuhou, Elizabeth Holmes. Hans Geursen (Coach), Sue
Hanson-Smith (Manager).