Women’s competition splits in two

GMC Green’s Jessie Kapene fires the ball towards goal but has Te Aowera’s Michaela Fox in the way. GMC Green topped the Poverty Bay women’s club hockey points standings by the narrowest of margins over YMP A. The eight-team competition has split into two divisions — Premier 1 and Premier 2. Picture by Paul Rickard

The weather looks set to produce additional challenges in tonight’s Poverty Bay club hockey games at Harry Barker Reserve, particularly for the Masters and Waituhi.

YMP A and B men got the weekend under way last night on the Hain Farming Turf, with a game that was part of the 100-year celebrations of YMP hockey.

Tonight at 6pm Lytton Old Boys Resene Masters will have their fitness well and truly tested when they take on a Gisborne Boys’ High 1st XI team hungry to bounce back from their drubbing by YMP A last week.

“The students are fit, enthusiastic and not lacking in skill, so it will be a tough night for the Masters,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“Boys’ High should go on to get a comfortable win as they strive for a top-three finish in the men’s competition.”

Lytton Old Boys Traktion and Waituhi follow them at 7.30pm.

“That’s clearly the men’s game of the weekend,” Scragg said.

“Traktion would go in as slight favourites, but I don’t think they have shown us all their cards yet, certainly on attack.

“A wet, slow turf tonight might work in their favour.

“Traktion will need to be on their game to compete with them.”

The women’s competition splits into top four and bottom four from this weekend.

After their 7-0 win aginst Gisborne Girls’ High on Wednesday night, GMC Green took top spot in the women’s competition on goal differential.

They were followed by YMP A, just one goal behind.

In third place on the table were Paikea, a position that operations manager Louise Teneti said was the result of an outstanding effort.

The Ladies in Pink have won their past four games.

“Paikea had not fancied their chances of a top-four placing,” Scragg said.

In fourth place were Girls’ High.

“We will be calling that group Premier 1,” Teneti said.

So Premier 2 will contain Ngatapa, YMP B, GMC Kowhai and Te Aowera.

At the time The Herald went to print, the times for Saturday’s games had not been confirmed.

GMC Green will play Paikea, and YMP A will play Girls’ High.

Scragg said Paikea could have a hard test to start their Premier 1 campaign.

“The Green Machine will use this game to stamp their authority early, likewise YMP A over Girls’ High.”

In the Premier 2 games, Ngatapa will play TA, and YMP B will play GMC Kowhai.

“Ngatapa would be favoured to beat TA, but the match between YMP B and Kowhai could go either way,” Scragg said.

“What a great game that could be to kick off Premier 2.”

In the two games postponed from Saturday and played during the week, YMP A defeated PGG Wrightson Ngatapa 6-0. Grace Kuil (2), Maia Rickard, Mel Knight, Madison Savage and Moelani Tureia-Siataga were the scorers.

In the other match, which determined the points order of the top two in the women’s competition, GMC Green defeated Gisborne Girls’ High School 7-0. Amy England, Jade Stafford and Heni-Kamaia Thompson scored two goals each, and Julia Edwards got one.