Hockey: Tauranga teams secure medal haul at New Zealand Masters Hockey Tournament

Tauranga/BOP 60+ team member's Jenny Travis (white) and Janine Williamson (orange) from the Tauranga 55+ team. Photo / Petrina Martelli

It came down to a final shootout but the Tauranga women's over-60 hockey team was able to take victory over Auckland and win its division at the New Zealand Masters Hockey Tournament.

The team was one of seven Western Bay of Plenty teams that competed at the national tournament, held in Hamilton and Rotorua between March 3 and 9.

The week-long tournament included 81 teams catering to the over-35s to over-65 age groups. It was split between the two cities because it needed more turfs to accommodate the matches.

Chairman of the Tauranga Masters Hockey Committee Geoff Williamson says it was a great tournament.

"Masters hockey is growing and that is because there are people driving and organising it and a little bit of the population coming back to Tauranga," Williamson says.

"Players are there to compete and some games are at a higher level than club hockey. A New Zealand side for each of the age groups is selected from the tournament and they will compete in a trans-Tasman challenge."

The Tauranga women's over-55 team was one of two teams in its division, finishing behind Auckland.

The Tauranga men's over-55 team placed second in its age group, going down 2-1 to Auckland in the final. The women's over-35 and over-45 placed fourth and third respectively and the men's over-10 team placed fifth. A Kamiai-Tauranga combined over-65 team finished third out of three teams. Three of the Tauranga women's teams also included Rotorua players.

The New Zealand masters teams are expected to be named later this week.