Cambridge upset Wakanui Blue

Cambridge have caused arguably the biggest upset of the South Canterbury division one men’s hockey season, beating second-placed Wakanui Blue 4-3 at the Aorangi Park turf on Saturday.

The lead see-sawed, but Cambridge’s better organised set pieces proved the difference.

Cambridge striker Jared Parmenter put his side ahead 1-0 in the opening minutes, Wakanui Blue centre-forward Craig Te-Raki equalised shortly afterwards, before Nick King put Cambridge ahead 2-1 halftime.

However, Wakanui Blue came out stronger after the break.

Hayden Sinclair, playing inside right, scored off a penalty stroke, while Jeremy Moore put Wakanui 3-2 ahead with less than 10 minutes to go, thanks to a penalty corner. Yet midfielder Keiran Shea’s goal, and another to King, both on counter-attack, sealed the match for Cambridge.

Cambridge coach Bruce Small said he was pleased with the way the side held it together on defence.

‘‘Our set pieces were really well executed,’’ he said. ‘‘This shows the Wakanui teams aren’t invincible.’’

In Saturday’s other men’s premier grade matches at the Aorangi turf, Timaru Boys’ High beat Excelsior 5-1, while first-placed Wakanui Black scored three goals in the last 10 minutes to beat Tainui 4-1.

TBHS led 2-1 at halftime, and played with purpose in the second half. Mark Carter and Nick Anderson linked together well in the midfield, and both scoring two goals each.

BJ Mason tested the opposition throughout, scoring a goal off a canny flick past the defence.

For Excelsior, Tyson Hamilton scored the side’s solitary goal, while veteran Steve Zonnyville did his best to organise the defence, but overall, they lacked structure.

Wakanui Black coach Mark Bennett was pleased with the side’s late rally against Tainui.

Centre-half BJ Binnie scored two goals, darting past the defenders and foxing the goalkeeper for his second, while fullback Andrew Moore and right-half Daniel Snowball’s goals secured the win.

For Tainui, Richard Knight had a solid match at centre-half, while Ryan Mackey, playing up forward, scored the side’s solitary goal.

In the women’s premier grade matches, table leaders Geraldine thrashed Craighead Diocesan First XI 7-1, while in Ashburton, St Andrews were equally dominant in their 7-0 win against Collegians.

Geraldine coach Carl Hardacre said the decision to put three players up front as roaming forwards against Craighead paid off. Sarah Connell was particularly effective, scoring four goals.

‘‘We were leading only 2-1 at halftime, and we just pulled away when it mattered,’’ Hardacre said.

Craighead coach Bruce Rayner said the absence of Cass Reid, who had junior Black Sticks’ commitments, made a difference to the side’s makeup, but otherwise took the result on the chin.