 by Vaughan Hilton |
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a nail biting climax to the intercity premier women's competition, Te
Awamutu prevailed 5-4 on penalty strokes over Fraser Tech after the scores
were deadlocked at nil all after normal and extra time. Scoring opportunities were at a premium with Te Awamutu strike forwards Sue Hill, Maria Dunn and Michelle Whitehead being well looked after by a resolute Tech defensive screen led by Nicky Pearce. Te Awamutu dominated territory and possession but as the game progressed Tech created pockets of pressure with Debbie Bell and Bryone Hutchinson looking to pounce on any defensive lapses. Each side dropped to nine players for the first six minutes of sudden death extra time and then seven players for the next six minutes with neither side capitalising on short corners. The Tech players felt aggrieved in the final act of extra time when a shot from a PC finally found the back of the Te Awamutu goal, only to be deemed too high by umpire Ron Flood and the game went to a penalty stroke shoot out. Lizzie Holmes, the demure young Te Awamutu goalie became the hero of the day when twice making saves high to her right forcing the stroke out to sudden death after the scores were locked up after the mandatory five shots each. Maria Dunne Stephanie Bint and Rachel Falconer each scored their sudden death strokes for Te Awamutu and Stacey Bell & Bryone Hutchinson each nailed theirs low and hard to Holmes‚ left. Tech's Debbie Bell executed a good stoke high to Holmes left but was left in anguish as she watched an outstretched glove block the shot to allow Te Awamutu to retain their Intercity title. Tauranga defeated Southern United 2-0 in the play off for 5th and sixth with sisters Kate and Sam Sovery converting for Tauranga. The race for top four placings in the Mens Intercity Premier competition was thrown wide open after the well performed Counties side Kohekohe prevailed 5-2 over previous leaders Tauranga Old Boys. This allowed Fraser Tech to take top seeding and a home semi final after securing a hard fought 5-4 win over Mt Maunganui. The Mount led 2-0 at half time through goals to Alex Terrice & Andrew Pratt and a boil over looked on the cards. Second half goals to Michael & Richard Petherick, Sandeep Puna and two to Grant Goile were enough to secure the win for Tech but were they were pushed hard as the Mount added a further goal to Terrice and another by Dillon Scott. The Cook University had to beat early front-runners Ecolab Suburbs Piako in the late game to secure a top four placing at Kohekohe‚s expense and led early through a Hayden Ripia goal. Suburbs replied through Jeff Rosemergy and then a well taken PC strike by Wessel Eshuis restored the students advantage. Inspired keeping by Dean Armstrong kept Varsity in front until just before the break when Jonny Forbes finished off a good move. Varsity looked to have secured the much need win when they went 4-2 up with another Ripia goal followed by one to Blair Hopping and Suburbs resorted to the long hitting game to little effect. Persistent pressure finally found reward though, as Brett Sanders and Luke Forbes converted to deny Varsity their semi final chance. Next week sees Tech take on Kohekohe and Suburbs face Tauranga Old Boys in the semi finals. |
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