Fraser-tech rule in top-six fight
The men’s division of the Midlands Intercity hockey tournament is heating up ahead of the final round before the top six are secured with four teams vying for three remaining spots.
The three Pool A spots in the championship round have been decided while a four-way tussle in Pool B ensues.
In Pool A, table-toppers Fraser-tech are the only team with a perfect record.
They made short work of downing CKL Suburbs/old Boys 7-1 on Saturday.
Tech’s Waikato under-18 representative Alec Wilson scored his debut Intercity goal, with Jimmy Linehan, Michael Petherick, Matt Taylor, Ryan Emerali and Sean Brunton all getting on the scoresheet.
Charlton Thompson scored the consolation goal for Suburbs/old Boys.
Thames Valley move into second spot in Pool A, followed by Mt Maunganui.
University Reserves and OnewheroPukekohe fought out a 1-1 draw to both gain their first competition points.
However, they sit outside the area of contention for the premier pool.
Pool B remains tight at the top, with CBD University the only Waikato team in top-six contention.
In Saturday’s match of the day, the students played with cohesion and precision, utilising width and depth to rout Waiau Pa 7-0.
A brace of goals from Cam Hayde in the first half was all the students could muster against a resilient Waiau Pa side.
However, the floodgates opened in the second half as the speed of the game finally took its toll on the visitors.
Excellent passing and patience were key factors as University allowed the ball to do the work.
Clinical finishing ensured Gaurav Coreea, Craig Hardman, Tony Hopping and Hayde converted second-half goals.
Lachie Musgrave and New Zealand under-21 representative Matt Rees-gibbs also came out strong for the students.
They sit first equal in the pool with Rotorua Aces.
Pukekohe
Indians
and
Bayleys Otumoetai, sitting third and fourth, respectively, are in hot pursuit.
In the crossover pool match, Te Awamutu made hosts Kohekohe work hard for their 2-0 win.
With one round left, Te Awamutu will challenge Pukekohe’s entry into the top six after the Queen’s Birthday weekend break.
However, they are unable to make up the necessary points to vie for a spot, while Otumoetai face a tough matchup against Rotorua Aces.
A loss for either side would eliminate them from a top-six spot.
Bottom-of-the-table Rotorua Indians face CBD University next week, which, if Saturday’s display is anything to go by, should be a formality for the students and will lead them comfortably into a championship spot.
In the women’s competition, Onewhero-pukekohe secured the last spot in the championship table when downing Te Awamutu in sudden-death extra time.
While the visitors looked unlikely winners, they kept fighting. With the sides scoreless after normal time, a penalty corner strike by Lisa Craggs sealed the victory.
Chayce Skudder stood out in Te Awamutu’s attacking lineup but lacked support. Te Awamutu will now drop to Pool B.
In the championship pool, Fraser-tech demolished Hamilton Old Girls 8-0 with a clinical first-half display, and netted five goals.
Jess Bagley did most of the scoring damage with four while Shannon Cohrane, Natasha Cotton, and Imogen Neil also converted.
In the bottom section, University downed Mt Maunganui 3-2.
The students led by two at the break but a double to Mount’s Katie Horan kept them in the game.
Vanessa Martelli and Emma Andrews converted for University to secure their first win of this year’s Intercity competition.