Students to be put to the ultimate test

YMP A’s Maia Rickard and Rachel Newlands (goalkeeper) in defensive mode as YMP B’s Ana Te Kani threatens in a Poverty Bay women’s club hockey game. Both teams are in action on the turf tomorrow. YMP A are locked at the top of the table with arch-rivals GMC Green. Picture by Paul Rickard

High school teams face a litmus test of their progress in the weekend  Poverty Bay club hockey round as they front against two of the leading teams in the mens and womens competitions.

Gisborne Boys’ High 1st XI face the blowtorch first when they take the Hain Farming Turf against defending champions and co-leaders YMP A at Harry Barker Reserve tonight.

Their 6pm clash promises to be a real test.

“YMP A tend not to concede too many goals at any time, so the Boys’ High attack will have to chance their arm and throw everything at them,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“I think the students will make an honest game of it. But at the end of the day, or night in this case, I believe we will again see a quality performance from YMP A.”

Gisborne Girls’ High 1st XI face their challenge at 3.30pm tomorrow when they take on joint top-of-the-table GMC Green.

“The Green Machine have been tracking along very well,” Scragg said.

“But they will need to be wary of a Girls’ High side who can pull one out of the bag.

“They’re a young team but they are building and play with confidence.”

The round started last night when Lytton Old Boys Traktion took on YMP B.  The result was not available when The Herald went to print today.

Tonight’s other fixture at 7.30pm pits Lytton Old Boys Resene Masters against Waituhi.

“Our new playing strip won’t help us much tonight either,” said Masters team member Scragg in reference to last week’s big loss to Traktion when both sides turned out in their new strips. “We  face a Waituhi side who will be looking to bounce back strongly after a heavy loss (10-2) to YMP A.”

The women own the turf tomorrow and the day’s play begins at 12.30 when Paikea meet GMC Kowhai.

The “Ladies in Pink” (Paikea) are looking for their fourth win on the trot.

“I think they can do it, too,” Scragg said. “This could be one of the games of the round because Kowhai have shown us they have the ability to perform well.

“They will give Paikea a good run for their money.”

The 2pm game has Te Aowera in action against YMP B.

“This should be a more even playing field for TA, and if they play well they would certainly demand a lot of respect from YMP B. But based on performances so far, YMP B would go in as favourites.”

The final match of the week sees first-equal YMP A women playing PGG Wrightson Ngatapa Zeafruit at 5pm tomorrow.

“That’s a tough final outing of the weekend for Ngatapa. The results are showing Ngatapa are in a rebuilding phase this season.

“YMP A can be expected to score well against them tomorrow night.”