College cement top spot with big win
Defending champion and competition leader College won 6-1 over second-placed Massey in likely preview of this year’s final.
Massey, who were without two of their mainstays, got the opening goal off a breakout at the twin turfs on Saturday, after soaking up College pressure, with Marcus Emery on target.
College replied immediately off a baseline dribble by Aaron Purser, whose cross pass was slotted by Angus Hazlett. The score remained level at quarter time.
Massey owned the opening period of the second quarter, placing pressure on the College defence and earning a series of penalty corners, but with no success as College’s defence held out.
The action culminated in the last four minutes before halftime when College broke out from being hard on defence at their end to score through Aaron Purser.
They repeated the process three more times with Matt Young and Roshan Govind on target as the game slipped away from Massey.
College caught Massey by surprise in the opening seconds when Young was on target again.
Massey enjoyed huge periods of possession and territory as they pressured College and created many chances that College defence snuffed out. College finished the game on a high with Young scoring off a dynamic high drag flick.
Young and Purser stood out for College while Jackson Hirini and Brendan Payne did for Massey.
College retains the Challenge Cup for another week, with two more rounds before the semifinals.
The
Palmerston North Boys’ High School
first XI squad was away at a tournament, so Boys’ High fielded a team of colts and second XI players who competed admirably.
eventually won 12-0 to cement third place.
Marist’s passing and use of space created many chances, with Matt Black getting a deflection on target and later Josh Scott nailing the first of his six goals.
Boys’ High created a couple of chances. The midfield trio of Tom Hansen, Zane Mcgoldrick and Matt Taylor had standout games for Boys’ High and Zac Soper excelled in goal.
Isaac Turner scored mid quarter and Marist added one more
Marist
when Lance Beaman fed Scott for his second goal. Scott scored within seconds after halftime and again minutes later.
Soper was gallant in goal, including a glove swipe of a point blank hit.
Marist kept up the pace and goals came from Craig Wright, Beaman and Keiran Caughey. In Wanganui host
won 2-1 over
Old Boys School Hockey Club. Massey. Tech College High
The women’s competition heated up when runaway leaders were held to a 2-all draw by third-placed
High School Hockey Club
They knew each other’s play well, cancelling out each other’s strengths. HSHC missed Cathryn Pollock in midfield.
HSHC players started on edge with the front strikers guilty of over dribbling into trouble.
Massey’s game plan of playing long with high strikers upset HSHC and their defence was never comfortable.
The opening goal rolled HSHC’S way and Massey equalised 10 minutes before halftime.
Massey scored off a breakout to take the lead and flooded forward again, hunting for their third.
However HSHC lifted their game, with Wendy Ridd moving back into centre role and started early passing that gave their strikers space. They passed and got chances, one from which they scored and equalised.
Massey captain Natasha Narasy had a standout match at centre half with her cover defence and quick ball out of defence, while Kelly Carline was outstanding in goal. Ridd and Anna Willocks stood out for HSHC.
Palmerston North High School Wanganui. Girls’
won 5-2 in their away game against
Eva Bayley was player of the day for Girls’ High, backed up by midfielder Kate Blincoe and strikers Maddie Harris and Gabrielle Baan. The win pushes Girls’ High into fourth place on goal difference over Wanganui.
In the late match won 5-0 over to close the gap on HSHC.
Early goals in both quarters got College away to a win, with the Development side having periods in command but unable to score.
Olivia Harding continued her good form in goal for Development and Amber Jensen played well up front for College.
College College Development