Hockey: Composure counts for WBHS

Hamish McKechnie flicks the ball away from Maungakaramea's Todd Imerson. Photo / Tania Newman

Life gives champs not lemons, but lemonade

Whangarei Boys' High School were "celebrating with lemonades" after they were crowned reserve men's hockey champions by beating Maungakaramea 2-0.

Boys' High started the final on Saturday at a fast pace on attack and scored early through a Fletcher Coutts strike into the net, much to the delight of the crowd of supporters.

The school team then used their pace to launch more attacking opportunities and keep Maungakaramea in their defensive end.

However, Boys' High were unable to convert any more chances in the first half and this let Maungakaramea back into the game. After the half-time break, Maungakaramea enjoyed more periods on attack but the Boys' High defence held strong and at some stages they had all 11 players defending.

Boys' High coach Warren Litchfield was pleased his team did what they talked about before the game, adding he was happy how his young team stayed composed in defence.

"We defended really well and that's what we talked about, being strong on defence," he said. "We had two 14-year-old boys as our full backs today."

Maungakaramea pulled their goal keeper with 10 minutes to go, allowing another attacking player on the field to try to put pressure on Boys' High.

However, with no keeper, and a fast attacking break threatening, Maungakaramea committed a deliberate foul in their defensive circle, giving Boys' High a penalty stroke and chance to secure the match. Anthony Carter-Bell stepped up to take the stroke against a Maungakaramea field player wearing a helmet, and calmly slotted the ball in the right-hand net.

Litchfield was relieved his team could win the intense final after they took out the round robin title and mentioned they would "go and celebrate with lemonades".

Mangapai took third position in the reserve men's grade after they beat Springfield in their playoff on Thursday night.