Wairarapa pipped at post

Wairarapa deserved better than their third placing at the national under-18 women's hockey tournament which drew to a close in Wellington on Saturday.
In six matches Wairarapa had five wins - three of them in pool play - but a draw with North Harbour in the semifinal not only cost them a place in the grand final, but almost certainly also the title of national champions.
The result of the North Habour match came down to penalty strokes after the scores were level 1-1 at the end of field play time and it was North Harbour who had the edge there, successfully converting four strokes to Wairarapa's three.
That result left North Harbour playing off with Auckland in a final which North Habour won 2-0. Wairarapa had previously beaten Auckland 5-2 in pool play.
It also meant Wairarapa playing off for third and fourth against Tauranga and it spoke volumes for their character that they did not allow the disappointment of the semifinal loss to adversely affect their performance, winning by a comprehensive 5-1.
Wairarapa results were:
Pool play: Wairarapa 5 (Felicity Reidy, Jenna Anderson 2, Katherine Van Woerkom 2), Auckland 2; Wairarapa 4 (Morgan Percy, Megan Hull, Jenna Anderson, Katherine Van Woerkom), Hawke's Bay 0; Wairarapa 3 Reidy, Anderson, Ashleigh Marfell), Counties-Manukau 0.
Quarter-finals: Wairarapa 4 (Georgina Warren, Reidy, Anderson, Van Woerkom), Northland 1.
Semifinals: North Harbour 1 and 4 penalty strokes, Wairarapa 1 ( Van Woerkom) and 3 penalty strokes (Helen France, Anderson, Marfell).
Playoff for third and fourth: Wairarapa 5 (Kristy Anderson, Percy, Marfell, Van Woerkom and Anderson), Tauranga 1.
The Wairarapa under-18 men's team placed 12th at their national tourney in Auckland. Crowned champions were Auckland who scored a 3-2 win over Wellington.
Wairarapa results were:
Pool play: Hawke's Bay 9, Wairarapa 2 (Hugh Taylor, Mitchell Blackwood); Wairarapa 2 (Brad Smith, George Falloon), North Harbour 2; Wairarapa 4 (Brad Smith, George Falloon, Hugh Taylor, Mitchell Blackwood), Wanganui 3.
Playoff for ninth to 16th: Wairarapa 4 (Korde Brough, Josh McKay, George Falloon 2), Mid-South Canterbury 2.
Playoff for ninth to 12th: Nelson 6, Wairarapa 1 (George Falloon).
Playoff for 11th and 12th: Northland 6, Wairarapa 1 (George Falloon).