01 May 04

01 May 2004

Fraser Tech caused the upset of the day when they defeated previously unbeaten The Cook University 3-2.

The teams traded early attacks, each thwarted by the opposing Armstrong brothers in goal. Varsity's Dean Armstrong saved a sharp acute angled shot from Rob Crozier and the ensuing break out led to a scoring chance which required two successive saves by brother Craig Armstrong in goal for Tech before being eventually cleared off the line by evergreen Jack Clayton.

Rob Gunn gave Tech the early lead through a well taken strike from a penalty corner. D Armstrong was again called upon to make a fine reflex save to prevent Tech taking a 2-0 lead. With conditions not conducive to free flowing hockey on a water logged surface, both teams struggled to find their rhythm. C Armstrong undid some of his early good work with an unneeded touch which was deflected to Jason Bishop who slotted home for the equaliser. Warren Phillips restored Tech's advantage with a cracking shot from the top of the circle after a fine run from Sandeep Puna.

C Armstrong was again called upon to make multiple saves but was left prone at the top of the circle when Wessels Eshuis took advantage of an open goal to crack in Varsity's second to leave the sides locked up 2 all at half time. Both sides continued struggling to string passes together in the second half. Centre halves Pete Nicol and Tenga Rangitauira for Tech and Varsity respectively, were called upon to carry the bulk of the work load in distribution with Nicol, a Waikato & NZ Masters representative, adapting better to the conditions.

The deadlock was finally broken when Puna laid off a rebounded shot for Crozier to slot in Tech's third. Varsity threw everything they had at the Tech defense, but Armstrong, Nicol and a tireless Phillips thwarted any opportunities to equalise. The win was not enough to secure Tech a place in next weeks final though, which will see Varsity play Suburbs.

Ecolab Suburbs Piako downed bottom placed Robinson University 10-1. Varsity started strongly and placed the Suburbs defense under pressure for the opening quarter before B J Watling opened the scoring for Suburbs, finishing off a well constructed passing move up the left flank. Suburbs led 4-0 at half time after Aaron Barnsdall latched onto a sloppy clearance from a PC, Watling deftly touching in a stunning pass from Jeff Rosemergy, and Jonny Forbes slotting home a delightful through ball from Ian Haste. Rosemergy was rewarded for his first half efforts when opening the scoring in the second half. Energetic Suburbs right half Auke Idema, created and finished off a series of passes up the right flank for the sixth before Varsity pegged one back through defender Craig Hardman from a PC conversion. A second half hat trick of goals to Forbes, the second a skillfully executed lob over the keeper, split by a second to Rosemergy, completed the rout and secured Suburbs a finals place.

01 May 2004 Fraser Tech caused the upset of the day when they defeated previously unbeaten The Cook University 3-2. The teams traded early attacks, each thwarted by the opposing Armstrong brothers in goal. Varsity's Dean Armstrong saved a sharp acute angled shot from Rob Crozier and the ensuing break out led to a scoring chance which required two successive saves by brother Craig Armstrong in goal for Tech before being eventually cleared off the line by evergreen Jack Clayton. Rob Gunn gave Tech the early lead through a well taken strike from a penalty corner. D Armstrong was again called upon to make a fine reflex save to prevent Tech taking a 2-0 lead. With conditions not conducive to free flowing hockey on a water logged surface, both teams struggled to find their rhythm. C Armstrong undid some of his early good work with an unneeded touch which was deflected to Jason Bishop who slotted home for the equaliser. Warren Phillips restored Tech's advantage with a cracking shot from the top of the circle after a fine run from Sandeep Puna. C Armstrong was again called upon to make multiple saves but was left prone at the top of the circle when Wessels Eshuis took advantage of an open goal to crack in Varsity's second to leave the sides locked up 2 all at half time. Both sides continued struggling to string passes together in the second half. Centre halves Pete Nicol and Tenga Rangitauira for Tech and Varsity respectively, were called upon to carry the bulk of the work load in distribution with Nicol, a Waikato & NZ Masters representative, adapting better to the conditions. The deadlock was finally broken when Puna laid off a rebounded shot for Crozier to slot in Tech's third. Varsity threw everything they had at the Tech defense, but Armstrong, Nicol and a tireless Phillips thwarted any opportunities to equalise. The win was not enough to secure Tech a place in next weeks final though, which will see Varsity play Suburbs. Ecolab Suburbs Piako downed bottom placed Robinson University 10-1. Varsity started strongly and placed the Suburbs defense under pressure for the opening quarter before B J Watling opened the scoring for Suburbs, finishing off a well constructed passing move up the left flank. Suburbs led 4-0 at half time after Aaron Barnsdall latched onto a sloppy clearance from a PC, Watling deftly touching in a stunning pass from Jeff Rosemergy, and Jonny Forbes slotting home a delightful through ball from Ian Haste. Rosemergy was rewarded for his first half efforts when opening the scoring in the second half. Energetic Suburbs right half Auke Idema, created and finished off a series of passes up the right flank for the sixth before Varsity pegged one back through defender Craig Hardman from a PC conversion. A second half hat trick of goals to Forbes, the second a skillfully executed lob over the keeper, split by a second to Rosemergy, completed the rout and secured Suburbs a finals place.		File Photo Hamilton Old Boys didn't have it all their own way in defeating Waikato U18's 7-4. Old Boys led 5-2 at the break through goals to Paul Rae(3), Adam Gordon and Matt Pullin. U18 goalie Jordon Engelsman frusted the Old Boys attack in the second half with a brace of saves before Pullin finally found a way past. A trademark drag flick by Richard Petherick reduced the deficit for the U18's to make it 6-3. Engelsman continued to stifle scoring chances with agility and mobility before Rae burgled a fourth. Andrew Richards rounded off the scoring for the youngsters. Only one game was played in the Premier Women's division as the weather transformed the sand turf into a lake forcing the postponement of scheduled games except for Southern v Te Awamutu. Te Awamutu took the early advantage through a Robyn Matthews goal from a PC. Maria Dunne continued her scoring ways to increase the lead and two field goals to Rachel Falconer gave Te Awamutu a handy 4-0 lead at half time. Southern battled hard in the second half and Te Awamutu were restricted to a solitary goal to Matthews for a convincing 5-0 win.