Nelson under-15 girls’ team retains JD Cup

The Nelson under-15 girls’ hockey team remained unbeaten to retain the JD Cup at a triangular tournament in Blenheim at the weekend.

Nelson opened their campaign with a solid 6-0 win over a strong West Coast team.

Anna Kersten stepped up to take on the pivotal role of centre half, with her speed of pass and vision giving Nelson’s strikers clean space to run and dominate up front. Jess Kelly scored another hat-trick, while the backs combination of Alice McPhie and Maddy Kilworth combined effectively with goalie Abby Canton to keep the opposition scoreless.

Alisha Lewis scored the goal of the match with a back stick shot across the goalie into the top right hand corner just before half time.

Nelson met an aggressive Marlborough team in game two, eventually settling for a 2-2 draw.

Despite Jade Bixley’s opening goal within 20 seconds of the start, Nelson’s over-confidence and Marlborough’s commitment meant that Nelson couldn’t dominate. Marlborough fought back with a goal from a penalty corner before Kelly scored Nelson’s second goal to give them a 2-1 halftime lead.

Nelson enjoyed much more possession and territory in the second half but were unable to convert a multitude of penalty corners. Marlborough scored the only second half goal but due to Marlborough’s draw with West Coast, Nelson retained the trophy.

The Nelson under-15 boys scored two big wins over Buller and West Coast and drew 2-2 with Marlborough to win the Supporters Cup.

Nelson opened with a convincing 10-1 win over Buller, with Zach Moffat (2), Tarn Richards, Conner Wetzelberger, Lachlan Rushbrooke and Cale Duncan all scoring during the first half for a 6-0 lead at the break. Moffatt added another two in the second half for a personal fourgoal tally, with Sam Burke and Daniel Stock completing the lopsided scoreline.

Against Marlborough, Nelson trailed 1-0 at halftime before two second half goals by Duncan enabled Nelson to scramble a 2-2 draw.

Stock, Duncan, Logan Bishop and Wetzelberger all contributed first half goals in Nelson’s final match against West Coast to take a handy 4-0 lead into halftime. Duncan scored twice in the second half to complete his hat-trick, with further goals to player of the tournament Thomas Corbin, Moffat and Rushbrooke completing another comprehensive 9-0 win.