Tasman revs up to down Federal
Tasman’s young guns finally played to their potential to secure a 4-2 division one men’s hockey win over Federal at the weekend.
Tasman dominated from the opening whistle, denying Federal possession and eventually scoring through their recently returned stalwart Hamish Malcolm. Pat O’Connor-Leys added a second from a penalty corner before Federal dragged one back through Jamie Machen. But O’ConnorLeys struck again, beating two players at the top of the circle and drilling his shot past the keeper to take a 3-1 halftime lead.
Federal returned stronger after the break, turning their increased pressure into a goal for Laurence Hillyer. Tasman’s keeper Biem Vlaming produced some extraordinary saves to deny Federal’s strikers any more goals, while Malcolm and Brad Smith combined well in the buildup to Malcolm’s final goal.
The Saturday clash between United and NBS Stoke saw a complete turnaround in each team’s recent fortunes as Stoke surged to a 4-0 win.
Stoke’s disappointing previous two performances bore little resemblance to Saturday’s effort, showing significantly more commitment as two goals to Alex Davies, the second from an acutely-angled back stick shot, helped put Stoke ahead 2-0 at halftime.
United mounted more pressure after the break, but poor finishing and some good saves by veteran goalkeeper Tony Williams kept Stoke in the game.
Stoke earned some breathing space through a Brent Butcher stroke with 10 minutes to go. Then, with United pushing players forward, Aaron Inwood got in behind the defence to beat the keeper one-on-one with two minutes to go.
Davies stood out in a strong Stoke team effort, while United’s major threats, Brendan Burnett, Paul Muncaster and Jamie Brown lacked their usual accuracy.
Federal’s scheduled Saturday clash with Arotea-Kiwi in Blenheim has been deferred until next Saturday due to the unavailability of a number of masters players.
The Tasman women’s team began the weekend with a 2-1 Thursday win over Federal.
Tasman scored virtually from the opening whistle when Ruby Meehan caught Federal’s defence unawares, leaving left half Emma Patrick to add a second later in the half to put them ahead 2-0 at the break.
Federal’s Ella Orr provided the only second half scoring to help reduce the deficit to 2-1 as Tasman held on for a deserved win in an otherwise scrappy contest.
The remaining two women’s division one matches both ended in draws, Waimai and Waimea College sharing the points one-all and Federal and Arotea-Kiwi battling to a two-all draw in Blenheim on Saturday.
Waimai led 1-0 at halftime before Waimea College equalised through a second half goal to Kirsty Heyward, deflecting a centre cross from Mel Harris.
Waimea College appeared to have secured a win with a goal in the dying seconds, which was eventually overturned due to dangerous play.
Ella Orr again provided Federal’s goals in their draw with Arotea-Kiwi, scoring her first 10 minutes before the break ahead of stroke to Arotea-Kiwi’s Emma Mills as they went to the break locked up at one-all.
Orr and Emily Wallace traded second half goals, Federal also narrowly missing their chance of a late win when a field goal attempt by Hannah Climo hit the woodwork. Jay Sigley, Climo and Orr and defender Nicole Cant impressed for Federal.