Drawbest under-18s can manage at nationals

Nelson’s under-18 representative hockey teams have yet to record a win after two days’ play at their respective national tournaments.

The closest the Nelson girls’ team got was yesterday’s 3-all draw with Northland in Dunedin after Monday’s narrow 3-2 loss to Wairarapa.

Monday’s game was changed from a morning to afternoon clash due to the frozen ground, Nelson’s strong start countered by an accurate Wairarapa defence.

Wairarapa finally opened their account when an unmarked player on the left post found the back of the net, followed soon after by a second from the top of the circle to secure a 2-0 halftime lead.

Halftime changes resulted in more urgency from Nelson and within five minutes of the restart, Ella Orr scored when she flicked the ball over the goalie. Nelson levelled the scores when Orr sent a great ball from Letizia Beyer-Rieger across the circle for an outstretched Ruby Meehan to score. However, a penalty corner in the final minute gave Wairarapa their winning opportunity.

Nelson’s stand-out players were defenders Lauren McMahon, Beyer-Rieger, Megan Hogarth and Kirsty Heyward, midfielders Nicole Cant and Kelsey Smith and front runners Rebecca Kersten, Orr and Meehan.

Nelson and Northland went goal for goal in game two, Smith putting Nelson ahead 1-0 before Northland caught Nelson offguard to level the scores. Smith scored her second goal with a direct hit from the top of the circle to restore Nelson’s lead before an unmarked Northland player on the post scored to produce a 2-all scoreline at the break.

Northland went ahead 3-2 off a deflection, but with time almost up, Nelson forced a penalty corner from which Orr scored the equalising goal.

Stand-out Nelson players were Louise Bradley in goal, McMahon and Hogarth in defence, Leah Jackman, Smith and Cant, midfield, and strikers Kersten, Meehan and Orr.

Nelson were due to meet Manawatu in today’s final pool match.

The Nelson under-18 boys suffered two heavy defeats in Palmerston North, losing 5-1 to Wellington on Monday ahead of yesterday’s 8-1 loss to Canterbury.

Wellington took just four minutes to open their scoring when Nelson’s defence turned over the ball in their own quarter.

But Nelson levelled in the 12th minute when Pat O’Connor-Leys beat three defenders on the edge of the circle and flicked it past the charging keeper.

Wellington regained the lead eight minutes later before adding a third from a penalty corner to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

Wellington quickly jumped to a 4-1 lead from a penalty corner, then to 5-1 from a field goal when some sloppy marking enabled the Wellington striker to blast a back stick shot low into the corner.

Nelson had their chances, forcing six penalty corners and twice hitting the post.

Players to impress were O’Connor-Leys who always caused Wellington’s defence problems and Blake McKnight at the back who worked hard all game.

Nelson were down 4-0 at halftime in yesterday’s game against a very strong and welldrilled Canterbury side. Nelson recovered slightly after the break, producing periods of dominance and eventually scoring from a penalty stroke off a penalty corner when a Canterbury defender was deemed to have made a careless tackle inside the circle.

Despite two Canterbury players being yellow-carded, Nelson were unable to take advantage, with Canterbury adding another three goals in the last 10 minutes as Nelson’s players tired.

Nelson players to stand out were captain Ryan Clements, Jessie Forsyth and Jamie Machen. Nelson were restricted to just two fit reserves due to injury and illness. Nelson’s last pool game is against Counties who lost 4-1 to Wellington yesterday.