1st Sept 2006

Te Awamutu Premier Women completed this season's dominance with another finals victory when defeating Avenue Self Storage University 5-2 on Wednesday night. Te Awamutu stamped their authority on the game from the outset with a goal in the opening minute to Stacey Barnsdall who scored from a rebound. Minutes later Kate Mahon increased the lead and the game threatened to blow out when Mahon delivered an easy touch in for Rose Jeffares to increase Te Awamutu's lead to three nil. Varsity showed character in rebounding from the early setback with Shannon Cochrane creating a PC breakdown for Lymarah Wharerau to reduce the lead after some slick interpassing. Mahon and Robbie Matthews steadied the midfield providing a constant stream of ball for the Te Awamutu strikers to launch attacks but the students held their defence intact. Wharerau and Cochrane again broke out on attack for Varsity, this time finding an unmarked Stacey Brannigan who held her composure to pop the ball over Lizzie Holmes in goal and bring the large crowd alive. Trailing 2-3 at the break the students remained competitive early into the second half as both sides struggled for dominance. Tosca Warren increased the Te Awamutu lead and Kath Drew sealed the win with a well executed PC variation.

Men's Intercity champions The Cook University mirrored Te Awamutu's success when they fought off a spirited challenge from surprise finalists Hamilton Old Boy's. The students went on the attack from the onset and after several attacking forays they opened the scoring when James Hawley's PC strike was deftly tipped into the top of the goal by Morice McMillan. Both sides played end to end exciting and attacking hockey showing a wide array of skills for the appreciative crowd. Varsity looked more dangerous from fast breakouts and Ben Bartels was unlucky not to level the scores when his shot rebounded off the upright. Sandeep Puna increased the University lead but Gareth Nuzem immediately replied with a drag flicked PC. The students quickly recovered and increased their first half advantage to three goals when James Hawley took advantage off a poor PC clearance to smoothly pop in his shot and McMillan scored from a rebound. Old Boy's proved their place in the finals was well deserved when they refused to give up attacking and were duly rewarded just before the break when Michael Petherick scored. Petherick converted again early into second half from a deflected free hit sparking the students into a series of penetrative forays into the Old Boys circle. Once again Bevan Sam was inspirational in goal for Old Boys saving several shots and with two others rebounding off the posts an upset started to look more likely. McMillan finally found an opening from an acute angle and his crisp strike looked a match winner. Old Boys once again responded through a Nuzem drag flicked PC and at 5-4 Varsity appeared to go off the boil. Chris Lawry capped off a fine all round game in goal for the students to snuff out several late Old Boys opportunities as his side held on for the win.

Vaughan Hilton
027 311 9329 mailto:vaughan@free.net.nz or
mailto:midlandsmedia@free.net.nz