The Waikato Hatch Cup boys hockey team had a good workout at the weekend, ahead of the 28 team National Hatch Cup tournament starting Sept 29th in Palmerston North.
The weekend's doubleheader saw Waikato draw 1-1 against Northland, and narrowly go down 3-2 to Hatch Cup holders North Harbour. Waikato were unlucky to trail 1-0 at half-time after dominating the first half, but failing to take their chances. The second half was the reverse and Waikato snatched a draw when stand-out centre-forward Chris Connolly broke through on a solo run and beat the keeper one on one.
With only a short break between games the Waikato boys could have been expected to be fatigued, but showed no such signs against North Harbour.
Down 1-0 at the break, once again Chris Connolly made his presence felt, this time smashing home a strong reverse stick shot from the top of the circle. The goal saw Waikato putting Harbour under constant pressure but unable to break through, and is was Harbour who responded with two goals on the quick break to lead 3-1 with ten minutes to go. Waikato eventually pegged one back with a Fraser Kilgour penalty corner strike, but couldn't quite do enough to snatch the draw.
The hard-working, goalscoring, centre-forward Chris Connolly was a stand-out perfomer, while others to show real progress and promise were goalie Tim McDonald, sweeper Nathan Johnson, and inside left Antony Snodgrass.
Waikato came out the weekend once again proving they are very competitive with the best sides in the north, a confidence boost they will need for when they take on the crack southern sides, Canterbury and Nelson, later this month in pool play at Hatch Cup. Waikato's final lead-up game to Hatch Cup is this Sunday against Tauranga 12.15pm at the Gallagher Hockey Centre.
Results: Waikato 1 (Chris Connolly) Northland 1, Waikato 2 (Chris Connolly, Fraser Kilgour) North Harbour 3.
Jon Tanner
Investment Adviser
ABN AMRO Craigs