YMP A men completed an unbeaten club hockey season in style on Saturday when they eclipsed Gisborne Boys' High School 8-0 in the Poverty Bay A-Grade men's final. Back row (from left): Chris Fox, Heath Tupara, Alex Hyland, Michael Bond, Zane Tuhou, Thomas Rutene, James Torrie (player-coach), Matty Waikari, Aorangi Tuhou and Dallas Kerr (manager). Front (from left): Lachie Falloon, Kyle Tupara, William Cooper (lying in front), Kohere Tupara, Tamanay Tuhou, Hamish Swann and Winiata Tarawa.
Photo / Tony Scragg
YMP A men completed an unbeaten club hockey season in style on Saturday when they eclipsed Gisborne Boys' High School 8-0 in the Poverty Bay A-Grade men's final. Back row (from left): Chris Fox, Heath Tupara, Alex Hyland, Michael Bond, Zane Tuhou, Thomas Rutene, James Torrie (player-coach), Matty Waikari, Aorangi Tuhou and Dallas Kerr (manager). Front (from left): Lachie Falloon, Kyle Tupara, William Cooper (lying in front), Kohere Tupara, Tamanay Tuhou, Hamish Swann and Winiata Tarawa.
Photo / Tony Scragg
GMC Green women and YMP A men reigned supreme at Poverty Bay club hockey’s Grand Finals Day - retaining their A-Grade titles in emphatic fashion.
In a surprisingly commanding display, YMP A won the men’s final 8-0 over Gisborne Boys’ High School First XI on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve.
Gisborne Denture Clinic GMC’s 7-1 dismantling of YMP A women - unbeaten all season - was even more of a shock.
The nerves of the students, playing in their first A-Grade final in 14 years, perhaps got the better of them as YMP capitalised on their opportunities inside the circle.
By halftime YMP had built up a 3-0 lead, including a wonderful opening goal to danger man and Boys’ High old boy Tamanay Tuhou after a defensive error from the students.
Boys’ High weren’t about to give up but suffered a huge blow early in the third quarter when one of their players was sent from the field after umpire Jo Cumming and Amber Church consulted over an off-the-ball incident that resulted in a YMP player suffering a head injury.
It made the mountain to climb Everest-esque for the students and YMP took advantage, adding five goals to their tally to claim their third consecutive men’s championship title and underline their status as the top team in Poverty Bay men’s hockey.
GMC Green celebrate their victory after the Poverty Bay women's club hockey grand final on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday. They beat YMP A 7-1. Back row (from left): Krissy Hohepa, Tori Wharepapa, Amy England, Cate Hills, Bree-Luite Thompson, Ana Fleming, Shannon Williams, Nellie Brown, Jade Stafford (with son Taimana Stafford-Mohi), Georgia Craig and Noeline Smith. Front (from left): Caitlin Candy, Charlie Brown, Maia Brown, Heni-Kamaia Thompson, Caroline Maclaurin and Michelle Hills.
GMC lived up to their “Green Machine” title as they ultimately made no contest of the women’s final.
The score was locked at 1-all midway through the second quarter when GMC took control.
They added three goals in each quarter as YMP had no answer to their attacking prowess and could not breach a staunch defence as GMC’s confidence grew.
Jade Stafford and Charlie Brown each scored doubles, and the other goals came from the sticks of Shannon Williams, Amy England and Caroline Maclaurin.
Dannell Tuhou scored YMP’s goal.
In other games, PGG Wrightson Ngātapa beat Emerre and Hathaway LPSC Paikea 3-1 in the playoff for third on Friday night.
It was 0-all after the first quarter, but Ngātapa assumed control and by the end of the third quarter were 3-0 ahead.
A late Paikea goal in the final quarter prevented a whitewash.
Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School’s First XI made a slow start against GMC Kōwhai in the playoff for fifth on Friday night before finding their rhythm.
The second quarter proved a turning point, as Girls’ High netted their first goal and proceeded to dominate for a 4-0 win.
This impressive performance capped off a successful month of hockey for GGHS as they build towards their secondary school winter tournament.
The men’s B-Grade final between LPSC Resene Masters and YMP B produced a thrilling display of hockey.
Masters struck first, YMP B responded but Masters banged in consecutive goals and went into the halftime break with a 3-2 advantage.
The competitive action continued in the second half but neither team could find the net, meaning victory for Masters and with it bragging rights until 2025.
YMP A's Brooke Willock has to combat two GMC Green players in Charlie Brown (left) and Caitlin Candy. Brown scored two goals in GMC Green's 7-1 win in the Poverty Bay women's club hockey grand final. Photo / Paul Rickard
The Poverty Bay Hockey prizegiving followed.
YMP’s Thomas Rutene was named Men’s Player of the Year while Paikea’s Jo Cumming won Women’s Player of the Year.
The top female goal-scorer was Shannon Williams (27 goals before the start of finals). The top male goal-scoring honour was shared by YMP’s Tamanay Tuhou and Gisborne Boys’ High’s Oliver Egan (18 goals each).
