U-18 women take hockey tourney title

Wairarapa might not have played to their potential at the under-18 regional women's hockey tournament in Taranaki over the weekend but they still won the title.
Coach Richard Fenwick said it was a mark of the team's capabilities that they could beat quality opposition without ever producing their best form.
"We did get better as the tournament went on but I think it's fair to say we never quite reached our own expectations," he said. "We are certainly capable of better, that's for sure."
Wairarapa faced hosts Taranaki in their opening match and while the 2-1 scoreline in their favour might suggest a closely-contested game it was anything but.
Wairarapa were dominant in terms of territory and possession, but struggled to turn scoring opportunities into goals.
It was much the same story in the second match against the Wellington development squad, with Wairarapa failing to trouble the scorer with about 30 shots at goal before they scored from a penalty corner in what was the last play of the match.
Up against Wellington A, the Wairarapa team looked destined for their first loss when they trailed 0-2, but they produced some of their best hockey of the tournament in scoring two second half goals to level things up at 2-2.
That left Wairarapa needing a win in their final match against Hawke's Bay to take the title, and in another closely-fought encounter they won 4-3. a result which flattered the Bay to some degree, as they scored their third goal right on fulltime.
Outstanding players for Wairarapa over the four games were inside right Wendy Hull and left half Lily Parker.