Mount Maunganui will go into this week's Midlands Intercity cup championship round as favourites, with a restocked team that will likely help them secure a spot in the finals.
In the last round of matches for the Intercity women's grading round last weekend, a depleted Mount side took the field against second-ranked Fraser Tech, with six players missing from their usual line-up. The result went in Tech's favour, beating Mount Maunganui 3-0.
Though their manager Bernadette Millar commented she was not too worried because her team held a 4-point lead at the top of the ladder, Tech came to play and put the Mount defence under pressure from the starting hooter.
In this week's championship round Mount Maunganui are expected to have a restocked team which will include key player Kate Savory, who was missed last weekend. Leading goalscorer Abbie Johnson is also hoping to be given a medical clearance to play Saturday after being sidelined in recent weeks. They will, however, be missing regular goalie Isla Johnson and striker Gemma Lucas, who have rep commitments.
Playing each other for the second time in a row, Tauranga Hockey Association spokesman Bill Webb expects Mount Maunganui to be the favourite over Fraser Tech this weekend, predicting they will face off again in the final round.
