Hockey: Sam Webb's penalty shots cost Mangapai

Sam Webb

Maungakaramea's Sam Webb taught Mangapai a lesson in how to drag flick as the Northland representative slotted a hat-trick in their 5-3 win.

Webb popped all three of his goals through the Morris and Morris Mangapai goal from penalty corners, bringing his season total from two games to five in the men's premier hockey competition.

Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea coach John Child was pleased with the way Webb and his team performed during their win on Friday night.

He said that, while Webb showed why he was Northland's drag flicker, it was difficult to pick particular players who stood out.

Child said he credited a solid pre-season build up for their early form in the premier competition. "All of our strikers played well and I guess, with Sam Webb playing well at the back, that's good."

Child noted the performance of teenager James Mortimer, who had just started playing premier level for Maungakaramea.

"Someone mentioned that last year it took us eight rounds to get how many points we have got so far. So we're pretty happy to obviously get our first win under belt and we're looking forward to the first top of the table clash next week."

Mangapai coach Mark Thorne said it was difficult at times for his side. "Everyone put in a pretty good display really but we had lapses of concentration in our defence, and Maungakaramea had a good game and were able to execute a lot of plays.

"We're rebuilding our team from last year so it was to be expected, we've only got about five guys that returned."

Thorne said he had scored one of his side's goals, along with Belgian player Loic Nagnant and Richard Redfern.

In the other premier men's match, Bream Bay United lost 5-1 to Currie Electrical Springfield on Saturday.

In premier women's matches, Real Deal Karamea won 4-1 over Club Auto Hikurangi, while ChillTech Old Girls easily won 4-0 against Gilmore Brown Springfield. Mangapai again continued their rough start to the season, with a 9-0 loss to Whangarei Girls' High School.