In the ABN-AMRO Craigs match of the day, Fraser Tech played Tauranga Old Boys in the final of the Midlands Region Intercity Premier men's competition.
Playing at pace from the outset, Tech took control of the game with two first half goals to Joel Rickard and some sensational passing movements with Sandeep Puna creating havoc up front in tandem with Richard Petherick and Rickard. Initially Old Boys struggled to make inroads into the Tech half but eventually managed to finish the first half with some ascendancy earning a brace of short corners. Solid defensive work from fullbacks Jack Clayton and Al Black and superb goal keeping from Craig Armstrong foiled the visitors' attempts to reduce the deficit. The second half saw Tauranga's playmaker Cameron Keogh create space up the right flank but again the Tech defensive screen kept the visitors scoreless. Tech looked to be cruising to victory when Keogh finally found a way past Armstrong and with ten minutes to go Old Boys threw everything they had at Tech. Although earning 13 PC's Old Boy's failed to convert any and in the final moments were unlucky not to level the scores when their drag flick rebounded off the crossbar only to land dangerously earning Tech a defensive free hit. From the ensuing play Rob Crozier touched in past Tauranga's teenage goalkeeping sensation Sam Elliott for a deserved but hard fought 3-1 victory.

Earlier Ecolab Suburbs Piako suffered their 2nd loss of the season when going down 3-4 to Counties side Kohekohe in the play off for 3rd and 4th. Star strike forward Hitesh Dahya caused problems for the homeside and capped off a fine game with two goals. Karl Thornton & Luke McCaw also found the back of the net for the visitors whilst Karlos Sanders, Jonny Forbes and Jeff Rosemergy all scored for Suburbs. Sidney O'Halloran was inspirational in goal for Kohekohe.
In the playoff for 5th and 6th The Cook University defeated Hamilton Old Boys 4-3 in a scrappy and often ill-tempered affair. Wessells Eshuis scored twice from PC strikes and David Hannah added the other two goals for the students whilst two superb shots from the top of the circle by Paul Rae and a goal to Old Boys player coach Steve Gordon completed the scoring. Te Rau Brown was strong on both attack and defense for the students and goalkeepers Dean Armstrong and Cameron Hughes were each keeping their teams in the game with some fine saves. Eshuis spoiled his solid game when allowing an over vigorous David Heappey to entice him into an altercation. Both players were sin binned for their outburst.

In Premier women's matches Fraser Tech rebounded from last weeks loss to defeat intercity champions Te Awamutu 2-1. Two first half PC conversions by Bryone Hutchinson gave Tech the edge whilst Robyn Matthews scored the consolation for Te Awamutu. Tech's Mogsie Stroud was my player of the match with a tireless work rate and affecting many crucial tackles whilst Debbie Bell and Hutchison kept the Te Awamutu defense constantly on their toes.
Southern United and Bazuka Sports University fought out a 3-all draw. Vanessa Hull, Jeanna Platt and Jelena Phillips all scored for Southern whilst Mel Yule, Stacey Brannigan, and varsity player of the day Lymarah Whaurerau all scored for the students. Southern sister act Sandra Laird and Diane Lamont were the pick of the Southern players.

Close Thing: Craig Armstrong stretches and misses, but the ball hits the bar.

Attendance: Was good, despite the heavy rain, hockey fans hung in there, at this exciting game.

In other games
Reserve Women
Bradleys Bunch Te Awamutu 3, (Angela Williams, Catherine Williams, Janelle Abbott) Insign Out University 1 (Sonja de Jong)
Reserve Men
Robinsons Sports Museum University 3 St Paul's Collegiate 2
Sitech University 0 Te Awamutu 1