Schools go down fighting in premier grade

Both Whangarei Girls High School and Kamo High School hockey teams put it to their older and more experienced opposition in the Northland women's premier competition.
Although WGHS lost to ChillTech Old Girls and Kamo just got pipped by Maungakaramea on Saturday, both school teams are improving with each game, and are emerging as a threat to the rest of the competition.
Old Girls made a quick start to their match and had the schoolgirls a bit frazzled when they attempted an early shot but did not convert it in the opening minute.
After 10 minutes, Old Girls' Jess McAlister slotted the ball after a lot of passing between the strike forwards. At the 20-minute mark they scored again from a break made at the back. Caitlin Gravatt slid to deflect the ball off the right post, taking Old Girls out to a 2-0 lead at halftime.
While Old Girls had controlled the first half, they had tried to match the schoolgirls' pacy game.
At halftime, Old Girls coach Alan Lints told his team to slow it down and hold on to possession in the second half, which the team did, creating several scoring opportunities.
But WGHS did well to keep them from scoring.
Lints commended WGHS for their gutsy performance and keeping their composure throughout the game.
Meanwhile, Maungakaramea and Kamo High School battled it out in a scoreless first half, followed by a fraught second half with both teams trying to find the goal.
With 10 minutes remaining, Maungakaramea's Donna Ford finally found the back of the goal.
Kamo had a chance to score off a penalty corner soon afterwards, but missed the attempt, leaving Maungakaramea with the one goal win.
Gilmore Brown Springfield had a had a big win over Hikurangi, winning 7-0, while there were also some big scores recorded in the premier grade men's competition.
Table leaders Bream Bay United pipped a depleted Springfield side, 9-1, with Ivo Rongen snagging a hat-trick for the victors.
Maungakaramea stomped on Mangapai, winning 7-1 in a game Mangapai was never really in, showing signs of the mid-season blues.