FRASER TECH RETAINS RAE-MARTIN MEMORIAL CHALLENGE SHIELD IN A DRAMATIC FINISH.

Round four of the Waikato Premier hockey competition was dedicated to the second annual Rae-Martin Memorial Challenge Shield played between the Fraser Tech & Hamilton Old Boys Premier Men’s teams. Old Boys appeared hungrier for the win in a tightly contested first half that produced a lone goal via a drag flicked PC conversion to Chris Pierce. The game came alive in the second half with Fraser Tech dominating the early exchanges. Somewhat against the run of play, Old Boy’s increased their lead when Jamie Kane provided the break for Ashley Finn to finish. Tech responded in kind almost immediately with a quick break out well finished off by a diving Dean Bellis to keep the game in the balance.  Old Boys tried to slow the pace of the game and controlled the ball with composure until late in the game. Tech’s chances for a comeback win were enhanced when Matt Orr showed composure to blast a reverse through Old Boys goalie Roman Coltellaro to level the scores. In a last second push for the winner Tech’s Keiran Burkhart repeated Orr’s effort to retain the Rae-Martin Challenge Shield for the second consecutive year in a dramatic 3-2 win.  

CBD University top the table as the only unbeaten Premier Men’s side after downing The RIV Suburbs-Piako 2-0. Varsity’s Craig Hardman scored a goal in each half, both from drag flicked PC’s to pave the way for the win.

In the Premier Women’s competition, Rosie Bird celebrated her debut Premier game for Fraser Tech with two first half goals and a second half hat trick to pave the way for a 9-0 win over Storage King University. Tech’s Kim Green opened and closed the first half scoring in converting two field goals and Lee Millar added two second half goals to complete the scoring.

CBD University’s Shannon Cochrane showed why she is in consideration for New Zealand honours with a classy solo effort to open the scoring against Te Awamutu. Jess Riley broke through the experienced Te Awamutu defence to lay off for Megan Brink to give the students a handy two goal half time advantage. Te Awamutu came out firing in the second half with Honour Young reducing the deficit when scoring a field goal. Jessica Baddely restored Varsity’s two goal advantage to complete the scoring for a hard fought win keeping the students at the top of the table alongside Fraser Tech.

For more photos from week 4...click here