Honours to Paikea in thriller on the turf

Paikea’s Kimberley Morete looks upfield as GMC Kowhai’s Krystel Williams looks to rob her of the ball in a Poverty Bay women’s club hockey game on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. This game — a 2-1 win to Paikea — was one of only two women’s games completed due to the weather. Picture by Liam Clayton

Paikea and GMC Kowhai fought out the game of the week in Poverty Bay club hockey with just a goal separating them on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

In contrast, all other results in the men’s and women’s competitions were clearcut.

Paikea’s “Ladies in Pink” got home 2-1 against GMC Kowhai to record their fourth win on the trot.

“Paikea led 2-nil at halftime (through goals to Jo Cumming and Jessie Duncan), scoring a penalty corner just on the halftime hooter,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“But Kowhai replied sharply early in the third quarter (Krystel Williams the scorer) and it was anyone’s game from then on. It took a valiant Paikea defence to keep Kowhai at bay.

“That was one of Kowhai’s best efforts so far this season.”

The rest of the results were processional by comparison.

Lytton Old Boys Traktion took care of YMP B 6-0, including a hat-trick to Patrick Ferry.

“It was not the convincing scoreline that Traktion might have wanted,” Scragg said.“But they will take away the valuable three competition points.

“YMP competed well in defence and would have taken some heart from that.”

YMP A nettted eight times without reply against Gisborne Boys’ High School 1st XI — several of the goals coming from penalty corners.

“That result shows this YMP side are the benchmark at the moment in the men’s competition.”

Kohere Tupara and James Torrie scored doubles for the A team.

Waituhi dealt Lytton Old Boys Resene Masters a 7-0 beating.

“Conditions were horrendous,” said Masters player Scragg. “The ball was basically coming to a standstill on the Hain Farming turf because of the torrential rain.

“No excuses though from the Masters. Waituhi were just too good and credit to them for sharing the goals around.”

Tegan Brown got two goals for Waituhi.

In the only other game played in the women’s competition, YMP B defeated Te Aowera 6-0 including a hat-trick to Aisha Twigley.

“It was a fantastic win for YMP B and it keeps the other women’s teams wary of them,” Scragg said.

“The rain had just started to come in at the back of the match so YMP did well to get their goals before that happened.”

The other women’s games — GMC Green v Gisborne Girls’ High 1st XI and YMP A v PGG Wrightson Ngatapa — were deferred  due to the rain on Saturday afternoon.

Results

Men: Lytton Old Boys Traktion 6 (Patrick Ferry 3, Sam Middleton, Aiden Scragg, Anthony Boyder) YMP B 0.

YMP A 8 (Kohere Tupara 2, James Torrie 2, Michael Bond, Tamanay Tuhou, Chris Fox, Zane Tuhou) GBHS 1st XI 0.

Waituhi 7 (Tegan Brown 2, Angus Thompson, Errol McClaren, Henry Mohi, Oren Wharepapa,

Mathew Pepere) LOB Resene Masters 0.

Women: Paikea 2 (Jo Cumming, Jessie Duncan) GMC Kowhai 1 (Krystel Williams).

YMP B 6  (Aisha Twigley 3, Toni Halley 2, Leah Tupara) Te Aowera 0.

GMC Green v GGHS 1st XI and YMP A v Ngatapa deferred.