Clearcut wins for heavyweight duo

The battle for top qualifying spot intensified this weekend between defending women’s club hockey champions College and High School Hockey Club.

College won 6-0 over a gutsy Palmerston North Girls’ High School, and HSHC at the twin turfs on Saturday overturned a slow sluggish start to win their match 4-1 over determined hosts Wanganui.

College had periods of play putting pressure on Girls’ High, finding their pattern, throwing the ball around, especially in the third and fourth quarters as the floodgates opened with four unanswered goals.

Girls’ High stayed right in it with some lively passages of play, culminating being awarded penalty corners in both halfs.

Jenna Peel had a standout game at centre for Girls’ High.

slowly adjusted to the pace of the game as they created many chances, especially in the first half moving out to a 3-0 lead by halftime.

HSHC

toiled and put on a few good runs that tested HSHC’S defence. A four-goal barrage from Rachael Peck inspired toa 4-0 win over to cement their top-four

Wanganui Massey College Development,

place.

Massey were affected with some main players absent with exams and university holidays, so they filled their ranks with some second-string players.

The game started well, with teams competing for ascendancy.

Massey climbed out to a 3-1 lead by halftime and College fell away in the second quarter, but came back and owned the quarter after the break ,maintaining structure and forcing chances on Massey’s circle without success.

Massey surged back in the last quarter with Peck scoring off a penalty stroke before the game ebbed to the final whistle.

held off a stiff challenge

Marist High School Hockey Club

from to win 3-1 in the men’s grade.

HSHC started with purpose, Jamie Besley giving them the edge with an early goal and they were in control for much of the first quarter.

Marist were scrambling for an equaliser as HSHC applied the pressure.

The game changed in the second spell when Marist drew level when Josh Scott scored off a back shot supplied by Jake Beeman.

The goal sparked a lift in tempo as both teams searched for dominance, but the stalemate continued after halftime.

The turning point coming in the third quarter with Jonty Cahill the hero for Marist.

Hamish Crawshaw adding the icing scoring off a penalty corner late in the game.

won 2-0 over

Massey Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

The play rocked back and forth between both shooting circles.

University exams and holidays meant Massey called up players from their second team.

In a changed lineup regular defender Bradley Grapes was promoted to striker and the move paid off, as he was in outstanding form.

Boys’ High showed some remarkable ball skills getting to goal, however, composure with ball inside the Massey shooting circle was missing.

Thomas Walsh in the midfield and defender Ben O’connor had standout games for Boys’ High.

In Wanganui, defending champion and Challenge Cup holder,

won 7-3 over hosts,

College, College Old Boys. Tech

It was a scrappy match as players adapted to the surface and each team’s style of play.

There were some good periods of the play with sound distribution through the midfield by College the key to the win.

There was nothing in the tight tussle through the first two quarters.

The game was finely poised at halftime at 3-2 to College.

College got the break with three goals in quick succession that hurt Tech’s chances.

Joe Crawford, Mike Young and Matt Young had outstanding games for College.