Check out the game report from Jack Clayton who is part of the coaching team for the Waikato Barbarians.

Saturday saw the first game for the Barbarians team in the Premier Women competition. This team is a combination of players from the reserve grade from clubs that do not already have premier sides. They have been pulled together late in the week to provide a fourth team in the six weeks local first round. It also provides an opportunity for player development at that higher level. The players wore their club socks to identify their club allegiance and these players will continue to play on Sundays for their reserve club sides.

It was an encouraging start for the Barbarians with an attacking PC in the first two minutes of the game. A great strike from Morgan Clayton clipped the top of the backboard but the goal was correctly disallowed due to its height over the goal line. The first quarter was a back and forward affair with opportunities at both ends going begging. The second quarter started with some good pressure being applied by the Barbarian strikers which led to a counterattack by Karen Mattews that was finished off by Kathryn Chapman.  This spurred Suburbs into life and resulted in the Barbarians having to defend multiple penalty corners. Jamie White was solid in the goal and Briar Hall pulled off a couple of goal line saves to send the Barbarians into the half time break at 1-0. With only one sub this break was not only good for some more coaching from Jack Clayton, Trinity Waaka and Aodan Wyndham-Smith, but a welcome rest for the Barbarian legs.

The third quarter saw some great work from Brooke Pegden and Lily Rouse up front who put pressure on the Suburbs defence. Both teams had their chances and were unlucky at times to not put more goal on the scoreboard. The final quarter was tight (the game and the Barbarian legs!!). The midfield work-rate of CJ Poole, Hannah Atcheson, and Kaitlyn Laird in the latter part of the quarter limited the opportunities for Suburbs who were determined to get a result out of the game. The game went right down to the wire, but the Barbarians managed to hold onto the lead and clock up their first three points of the competition.

Credit to Suburbs Piako Hockey Club for the photo 📸