HOCKEY - Late goal sinks Mangapai's hopes in heavyweight scrap

By Peter Thorley SHEER POETRY: Mangapai's Dean Gibson was in great touch on Saturday and here leaves Maungakaramea's Nathan Lugtigheid sprawled in his wake during another attacking run.MICHAEL CUNNINGHAMMaungakaramea out pointed Mangapai in the heavyweight battle at the top of the men's premier competition on Saturday but it was only a late goal by Ryan Cocking that helped avoid a split decision. The match ebbed and flowed with both sides enjoying long periods of domination but Cocking's winner gave Maungakaramea a 5-4 victory in a thrilling fightback that Mangapai controlled 3-0 at halftime. Mangapai dominated the first quarter of the match and were two goals up after Mark Thorne had scored a well-taken field goal and a drag-flick from a penalty corner. Maungakaramea came back in the second quarter but poor finishing cost them the chance to get on the board. When Gaurav Correa slapped a shot into the goal from the edge of the area just before the break to make it 3-0, Maungakaramea looked out of the game. It may have been something in the half-time water but Maungakaramea started the second spell at full speed and within 10 minutes had narrowed the gap to 2-3 with well-worked goals to Sam Webb and Graeme Bint. Five minutes later they were on level terms when Brett Hood picked up a half-cleared ball on the edge of the area to score. Mangapai rallied again with their most impressive player on the day, Dean Gibson, outpacing the Maungakaramea defence on the left flank to work his way into the circle to earn a penalty corner. Mark Thorne once again capitalised on the opportunity to put his side ahead but their lead was short-lived, with Nathan Lugtigheid mesmerising the Mangapai defence with some snappy interpassing to score the best goal of the match with just over 10 minutes to go. The goal helped Maungakaramea settle back into their game and they looked more likely to break the deadlock. When Cocking rounded the keeper and knocked the ball in the empty net in the final five minutes, the game was theirs. In the other premier men's match, Springfield benefited from the recent arrival of two German high school exchange students to beat Bream Bay 5-0. The German imports, Oke Alff and Raoul Weidlich, both scored two goals apiece, with James Watene scoring the other. In the women's premier league, Maungakaramea continued their recent unbeaten run with a 2-0 win over third-placed Whangarei Girls' High School. Their short passing game earned them the upper hand in the first half and they led 2-0 at the break, due to a penalty stroke converted by Katie Donaldson and a smart field goal finished by Arriane Christie. The second half was less impressive from the competition leaders as both teams settled for playing a long game, largely bypassing the midfield, without success. Kamo High School gave second-placed Old Girls a scare on Saturday and led 1-0 at the break, due to a Hannah Nink goal. After a terse half-time discussion Old Girls began to find their rhythm and gaps appeared in the previously watertight Kamo defence for a 5-1 win.