by Vaughan Hilton

Mixed fortunes at start of Intercity round. more photos >>>

16 May 2004 The opening round of the Midlands Intercity competition, in which Hamilton's top Premier Men's and Women's teams play against their counterparts from Counties, Tauranga, and Bay of Plenty was contested over the weekend with mixed fortunes for the Waikato sides. The match of the day saw Waikato Hooper Cup men's champions Ecolab Suburbs Piako host Rotorua Aces. In a free flowing and evenly contested opening stanza both sides struggled to penetrate tight defensive screens. BJ Watling broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a well planned PC variation when he cracked his shot inches past an outstretched Aces goalkeeper. A stunned Aces unit failed to concentrate and Ross Tritt stretched the lead a minute later with a deft touch from a well placed Jonny Forbes pass. Aces contested bravely and ground their way back into the game through a well taken Steven Holloway goal. Suburbs switched play from side to side in an effort to penetrate the circle and Luke Forbes narrowly missed touching in a lovely through ball from Ian Haste. Holloway put the teams on level pegging early into the second half but that sparked Suburbs into action. Brian Winiata replied immediately to restore the advantage and Tritt grabbed his second minutes later. With play moving from end to end the crowd was well entertained. Aces were denied a third with a superb reflex save from Geoff Williamson and Jeff Rosemergy completed the scoring converting two penalty corners to give Suburbs a hard fought but deserved 6-2 victory. In the battle of the Old Boy's, Tauranga proved too strong for Hamilton Old Boys with a decisive 5-1 victory. Carey Davies (2), Jonny Williams & Cameron Keogh(2) scored for the visitors with Andre le Clare replying for Hamilton. The youthful and well drilled Tauranga Old Boys unit dominated throughout the match. The HOB players, without U21 reps David Heappey and Paul Rae, resorted to long drives up the middle and lost composure all too often. With their frustration evident the game could have deteriorated but for strict control by officials Tritt and Neal. In out of town games, The Cook University defeated hosts Papakura 4-2, Kohekohe proved too strong for Mt Maunganui in winning 4-0. Fraser Tech traveled to Rotorua and continued their good form in winning 6-1 against Rotorua Indians. Rob Crozier opened the scoring within the first minute stunning the local Indian supporters. Robb Gunn stretched the lead before Indians replied just before halftime. Resorting to negative defensive hockey in the second half Indians never looked threatening. Successive goals to man of the match Grant Goyle put the game beyond reach with Michael Petherick & Gunn rounding off the scoring. B Division Men - Great Lake Taupo played Sitech Hire University who, in stepping up a level, contested the early exchanges well. Missed opportunities cost the students dearly in the first half and they turned at the break trailing 0-3. The students often penetrated Taupo's defense only to put the ball wide of the goal. Well taken goals by M Streeter(2), Justin Nichol, Ross Shaw & Brendon King gave the visitors a flattering 5-1 win. Pukekohe Indian's gave the Counties supporters something to cheer about in winning 7-2 against Robinson's Sports University. A Division Women On Friday night, Fraser Tech hosted Onewhero/Pukekohe. OnePuke, playing without seven first string players, battled hard for possession with youngster Lea Harris making some telling runs. Both sides started tentatively and struggled to string series of passes together. Tech slowly gained territorial dominance and led 2-0 at half time through a well taken field goal to Emma Neal and a PC conversion by Bryone Hutchinson. Tech's experience and territorial dominance should have seen them run away with the game but they dropped their intensity in the second half . A lone Stacey Bell goal saw Tech finish deserved but unconvincing 3-0 winners.		Suburbs Jonny Forbes weaves through a Rotorua defence to setup a pass for Ross Tritt to score. Suburbs Ross Tritt -A handy two goals against Rotorua Aces In the only other 1st Division game Southern United A found hosts Rotorua Aces too strong going down 4-1. University and Te Awamutu A both having their games deferred with a number of players involved in this weeks National Under 21 tournament in Napier. B Division Women Southern United played an entertaining and well constructed passing game in outclassing BOP Ngapuna. Ngapuna tried to physically impose themselves on the Southern players but through good utilisation of width and space Southern gained the early territorial dominance. Using simple triangles, Southern cut up the Ngapuna defense to lead 4-1 at half time with goals to Sarah Pearce, Shiree Briffault(2) &Rachel Foote. Ngapuna replied through Moana Leef. Ngapuna's Kiri Tahuriorangi had a splendid second half in goal and limited Southern's scoring to a third goal for Briffault and a penalty stroke converted by Bridget Taylor. Aroha Edwardson scored for Ngapuna for a final 6-2 scoreline. In the final intercity fixture of the weekend Bradleys Bunch Te Awamutu ground out an efficient 6-0 win over Fraser Tech Development. Bradley's, renowned for their slow starts, led 1-0 at half time courtesy of a Sarah Hobden goal. Mel Gunderson opened the second half in style, scoring with a delightful reverse sweep strike. Hobden & Gunderson both increased the lead before striker Angela Williams weaved her way past a brilliant 15year old Marietjie van Dyk in goal for Tech. Williams teamed up with daughter Catherine for the final goal touching a lovely PC strike passed van Dyke.