Otumoetai's Zane Welsh takes control during their hockey match against Rotorua Aces on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner
Otumoetai's Zane Welsh takes control during their hockey match against Rotorua Aces on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner
Midlands Intercity Hockey
It wasn't until 15 minutes before fulltime that a clear winner was known in the weekend's match between Rotorua Aces and Otumoetai at the Tauranga Hockey Centre.
Otumoetai had the opportunity to lead in the first half with a penalty stroke and a penalty corner, but both attempts flew wide.
It was not until 15 minutes before fulltime that Aces' Tenga Rangitauira put his team ahead, and a further goal resulted from quick passing and a nice finish from Chavez Makan to give Aces a 2-0 win.
Indiscipline from Aces, however, took the polish off their win; highlighting their need to exercise more self-control if they are to repeat their feat of winning the Men's Plate again this season.
Rotorua Ace's player Shavez Rahurahu takes a hit during their match against Otumoetai in Tauranga on Saturday. Photo/Andrew Warner
Tauranga Old Boys hosted Onewhero-Pukekohe, and ground out a 4-2 win, due mainly to the expertise of their drag-flicker Denym Clarke who scored all four goals from the penalty corner set-piece.
Brad Pitman was MVP for Old Boys, and Onewhero's keeper Anakit Singh got the votes for his team.
In the cup round of the men's Intercity Championship, Waikato Collegians defeated Bay of Plenty Indians 4-3 at Rotorua to remain the only unbeaten team after three weeks of matches.
Meanwhile, local teams suffered defeats in the first week of the cup round of the Midlands Intercity women's hockey championship on Saturday.
Top qualifier Mount Maunganui was beaten 7-3 by Fraser Tech at Hamilton, while Otumoetai Magic lost a tight battle with Aces at Rotorua.
The Hamilton match started with a flurry of goals and the scoreboard showed 2-all after only 11 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Fraser Tech dominated the Mount team and opened up a 5-2 lead, including a brace of goals from Kayla Povey.
During the third quarter, Tech added two more goals to their tally before Kate Savory got one back for the Mount.
Goalkeepers Holly Thornton and Georgia Ogilvie were MVPs for Tech and Mt Maunganui respectively.
The 7-3 win will give Fraser Tech a big confidence boost as the competition progresses towards the semifinals on August 11.
In Rotorua, Aces women converted a penalty corner late in the first quarter and that was the only goal in the evenly matched game against Otumoetai Magic. Stacey MacDonald was prominent for Aces in their 1-0 victory, while Abby Furmage stood out for Otumoetai.
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RESULTS:
Women, Cup Championship: Fraser Tech 7 Mt Maunganui 3, HT 5-2; Rotorua Aces 1 Otumoetai 0, HT 1-0; Waikato University 1 Hamilton OG 0. Women, Plate Competition: Marist 1 Suburbs 0; Te Awamutu 5 Waiau Pa 1.
