Wairarapa well prepared for Hatch Cup tournament

Wairarapa are going into the Hatch Cup national primary schoolboys hockey tournament in Wellington next week on the back of a rich vein of form.
After being toughened up by regular play against players often six or seven years older than them in the local college division one competition, the Masterton New World sponsored side were undefeated in two mini tourneys where they met other Hatch Cup teams.
At a tournament played at Clareville they beat Hawke's Bay 3-2, Wanganui 4-0 and Taranaki 3-1 and in another at Stratford they drew 3-3 with Manawatu and beat Wellington 3-1 and Hawke's Bay 4-3.
Overall then they scored 20 goals in their six games while conceding 10 but while such statistics are very impressive coach Dave Blackwood knows his 11th-ranked team have drawn a tough pool in Wellington. There they will come up against heavyweights Canterbury and Bay of Plenty along with Southland, Otago and Northland.
Blackwood is, however, confident they can enhance their seeding on this occasion.
Unfortunately injury has forced one member of the Wairarapa squad to withdraw, Joseph Robertson, who made his Hatch Cup debut last year, broke his collarbone and is out of action.
Managed by Lindsay Annear and with Matt Spicer as assistant coach, the Wairarapa line-up is:-
MITCHELL BLACKWOOD (captain) year 8: This is Mitchell's third year in Hatch.
He is a strong and dominant player at centre half where he sets up play well.
He was Wairarapa's leading scorer last year.
ALEX SUMENKO-BLUNDELL (vice-captain) year 8: This is also Alex's third year in Hatch.
He plays in the halves and often saves the day with his speed on defence.
He also combines well with his forwards.
RYAN TONKIN year eight: A forward, this is Ryan's second year in the Hatch team. He can create goals out of almost nothing and combines that skill with a powerful hit and high work rate.
MIKEY SPICER year eight: Mikey is goalkeeper and will be attending his second Hatch tourney.
He has the ability to read play and has outstanding anticipation on defence.
JOSH MCKAY year eight: Josh will be experiencing Hatch Cup play for the first time.
He is a fine defensive player with a strong tackle. A school trip to Japan means he will miss the first two days of this tourney.
BRADEN SMITH year eight: Playing in the halves, Braden is a pocket dynamo with his remarkable speed and skills. This is his second year at Hatch and he will be a key player on both attack and defence.
JARRAD DENBEE year eight: Jarrad has not played at this tourney before.
He is developing into a hard working and reliable player whose versatility is a good asset.
PHILLIP ARKELL year eight: Phil is a relative newcomer to hockey and will be playing his first Hatch tourney.
He impresses as a "natural" with speed and the ability to read a game.
BRADLEY ANNEAR year seven: Bradley is a striker in his second year at Hatch.
Last year he played impressively in the halves and he has now become a vital member of the strike force. He should be a standout performer again.
HAMISH FINLAYSON year seven: Hamish was in last year's Hatch team and played in the forwards then.
He has made a successful transition to the halves this season where his high work rate is valuable.
JAMIE MCANULTY year seven: Jamie has been playing some fine hockey at his first year at this level.
He plays in the backs and shows commendable maturity and dependability.
ZAC HARDIE year seven: A late inclusion in the side due to the withdrawal of Robertson, Zac has slotted in well.
He is a striker with good skills.
MATT HOWARD year seven: A striker in his first year at Hatch, Matt is a player who never gives less than 100 per cent to the team effort.
He is expected to have a good tournament.
ZAC CALDWELL year six: The youngest member of the side Zac is a striker with speed and good skills and the ability to read the game as well.
He can be labelled a rising star of Wairarapa hockey.