High five for Harbour City

Harbour City consolidated their lead in the women’s Wellington club hockey competition, while two scoring blowouts were features of the men’s.

Harbour City did not have things all their own way against Toa before winning 5-0.

Ruby Logan scored early but Toa’s defence worked hard and the score was only 2-0 at halftime. A late goal to Charlotte Eastman and a second to Logan secured Harbour’s bonus point win, and a fourpoint lead.

Indians caused Eastern Hutt plenty of headaches before conceding late goals and going down 5-2. Eastern’s Kat O’Callaghan converted a penalty stroke in the second quarter and the sides then traded goals before a late strike by Nina Lawrence and a third to O’Callaghan gained Eastern a slightly flattering margin.

At Clareville in the Wairarapa, Dalefield continued to find last year’s form elusive, with a determined Karori side securing a scoreless draw.

Finishing by both teams was again a problem with goalkeepers Amie McAnulty for Dalefield and Karori’s Saasha Marsters able to repel all attacks.

At Paraparaumu, Victoria beat Kapiti 4-2 to keep the pressure on Harbour City. Kapiti continued to show encouraging signs and were up with the pace for much of the contest with the score being 1-1 at halftime and 2-2 after threequarters.

A penalty stroke to Vic’s Katie Fraser sealed the result and eased her team’s concerns.

In the men’s competition Dalefield put their hesitant start to the season behind them with a thoroughly resounding 16-0 win over shellshocked Karori at Clareville.

It was 9-0 at halftime and the third quarter was scoreless before Dalefield came home with a rush. Ben van Woerkom, Dane Lett and Rowan Yeo notched hat-tricks, but nine players scored and there were plenty of well-constructed team goals.

Indians’ game with Naenae went along similar lines with Indians scoring six goals in the first quarter and only a couple in the next two.

Their finish was not quite as dramatic but they still managed three goals in the final stanza. Naenae’s desperate defence denied Indians several times but they scored many fine goals, none better that Joel Baker’s late reverse stick missile.

A dominant, but goalless, first quarter by Northern United against Hutt was of no avail as the Maroons weathered the storm and went on to win 3-1.

There was no score at halftime and Hutt were first on the board through Sam Miskimmin at a penalty corner. Two further goals were added before Northern’s Ambrose O’Halloran scored a late consolation.

Harbour City’s goals either side of half time helped them to 4-1 victory over previously unbeaten Victoria.

After Harbour went ahead in the second quarter, Gabe Kepes converted a penalty stroke right on half-time and Luke CracroftWilson scored immediately on the resumption. Ali Birchall netted a penalty stroke for the students but it was not enough.