HOCKEY - Solid defence key to arch-rival defeat

Two goals by Sam Webb helped Maungakaramea break the deadlock at the top of the men's hockey premier grade with a 2-1 defeat over rivals Mangapai on Saturday.
Mangapai started the game in their usual attacking style and were soon rewarded with a Dean Gibson field goal to get the scoring underway.
They continued to fashion chances, but were unable to break down Maungakaramea's solid defence, with the men in green wresting control of the midfield away from Mangapai.
Webb had struck twice in less than five minutes _ the first from a penalty stroke and the second from a penalty corner _ to take the lead. Despite a number of chances for both teams, the score remained unchanged for the rest of the match.
Bream Bay United went close to upsetting Springfield in the other premier men's match on Saturday. Bream Bay finally went down 1-2 in a close match.
In the women's premier competition, Hikurangi earned a morale boosting 3-3 draw with premier-grade leaders Old Girls on Saturday.
Although the match could have easily gone either way, the new game plan on display from Hikurangi and their determination to continually come from behind must have pleased coach Vicky Gribble.
Maungakaramea continued to make up lost ground in the race for points by scoring two wins over the weekend.
They played well to beat Kamo High School 6-0 on Saturday, but it was a gutsy 2-1 victory over Whangarei Girls' High School yesterday they were most pleased with.
High School pushed them hard throughout the match and had the score locked up at 1-1, before stand-out defender Stephanie Hudson scored the winner from a penalty corner.
In the second match yesterday, Old Girls scored three goals in either half to hand Kamo High School their second 0-6 defeat of the weekend.