YMP women overcome early scare; sunshine brings out best in YMP men

It’s sword play on the turf as Gisborne Girls’ High Senior A’s Julia Schiersmann (above left) and YMP A’s Moelani Tureia-Siataga lock sticks in a Premier 1 women’s game at Harry Barker Reserve. Tureia-Siataga scored a hat-trick in YMP’s come-from-behind 5-3 win. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Emphatic victories to YMP A men and GMC Green women and a fighting loss by Gisborne Girls’ High against YMP A highlighted the weekend’s Poverty Bay club hockey action.

YMP A slammed home eight goals without reply against Waituhi in a Prem 1 men’s match that had been predicted to be close.

“The YMP A men’s team showed up on Sunday in their rescheduled match determined to win it,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“YMP captain Kohere Tupara said it was the first time in a long while they had got to play in the sunshine, and they made the most of it.

“They played really well and once the goals started flowing, they kept on coming.”

Gisborne Girls’ High 1st XI gave YMP A a great run in their Prem 1 women’s clash before the defending champions emerged 5-3 victors — a scoreline that included a hat-trick to YMP’s Moelani Tureia-Siataga and a brace to Grace Kuil.

Chloe Kapene scored twice for the students and Emily Petro got their third.

“Girls’ High led two-nil early on, which had the crowd on their toes,” Scragg said. “It was 2-all at halftime, but YMP got their game going in the second half and were leading 4-3 during the final quarter. Their fifth goal was the icing on their cake.

“Well done to the students, though. They pushed them hard.”

GMC Green, who like YMP A women are unbeaten this season, were too good for Paikea — 6-1 the final score of their Prem 1 clash.

“Paikea scored first and it took the Green Machine a little while to get into their groove,” Scragg said. “But once they did, there was no going back and they scored pretty much at will.”

GMC Kowhai beat YMP B 3-1 in a Prem 2 women’s game.

“That was a good result for Kowhai and keeps them on top of the table.

“They look like the in-form team in the Premier 2 women’s competition,” Scragg said.

In the other Prem 2 match, PGG Wrightson Ngatapa defeated Te Aowera 2-0.

“Both goals came in the first half and despite their best efforts, Ngatapa could not add to their score. Hats off to TA and their defensive efforts in the second half.”

Lytton Old Boys Resene Masters enjoyed a 3-0 win over YMP B in their Prem 2 men’s clash.

The game was also played on Sunday because of the weather on Friday night.

“The scoreline shocked the Masters,” said Masters team member Scragg. “Maybe we need to play in the sunshine, too.”

LOB Traktion (Prem 1) and Gisborne Boys’ High 1st XI (Prem 2) had byes. They played a friendly on Sunday afternoon.

The women continue their Prem 1 and 2 table games for another two weekends before heading into playoffs.

The men’s Prem 1 and 2 divisions are also to compete their round-robins. The top qualifiers from each division advance directly to the final while the other two teams in each play off for the right to join them.

Poverty Bay club hockey results:

Prem 1 men: YMP A 8 (James Torrie 3, Chris Fox 3, Michael Bond, Gareth Knox goals) Waituhi 0.

Prem 2 men: LOB Masters 3 (Dave Melville 2, Duncan Pierce) YMP B 0.

Prem 1 Women: GMC Green 6 (Jade Stafford 2, Joha Becco, Jessie Kapene, Caroline Maclaurin, Heni-Kamaia Thompson) Paikea 1 (Joanne McLean).

YMP A 5 (Moelani Tureia-Siataga 3, Grace Kuil 2, Gisborne Girls’ High 1st XI 3 (Chloe Kapene 2, Emily Petro).

Prem 2 women: GMC Kowhai 3 (Shannon Williams, Dana Kingsbeer, Simone Grogan) YMP B 1 (Kellann Kemp).

PGG Wrightson Ngatapa 2 (Lulu Parker, Briar Robb)

Te Aowera 0.