Support tops as hockey boys finish 7th

The vociferous support given to Wairarapa from the sidelines at the Hatch Cup national under-13 boys hockey tournament in Christchurch last week did not go unrecognised.

Their efforts saw Wairarapa awarded the Supporters' Cup for the third successive year.

On the playing front Wairarapa finished a meritorious seventh out of the 24 sides contesting the premier tournament for their age group.

They lost to just Waikato, Canterbury and North Harbour. The former two teams eventually made it through to the final, won by Canterbury on penalties.

Wairarapa had the misfortune to lose one of their key players, Alex Hare, with a fractured hand against Canterbury, and another of their stars in Henry Phelps suffered a back injury against Waikato.

Both Hare and Phelps did, however, still take the field in the playoff match for seventh and eighth with Horowhenua, won by Wairarapa 3-0. The game marked their last appearance for the region at this event.

Wills Taylor was named Wairarapa's most valuable player while other standout performers were Sam Smith, Alex Hare, Henry Phelps, Will McMaster and Ethan Presow.

Wairarapa results: Beat Taranaki 3-0, beat Manawatu 2-0, beat Thames Valley 6-1, lost to North Harbour 0-2, lost to Canterbury 0-4, lost to Waikato 2-6, beat Horowhenua 3-0.