Our two championship grade teams come up against each other for their first game of the season.
CMK Accountants Stratford Avon played Le Dejeuner Catering Stratford Broadway on Friday in Stratford. Starting the 2017 season the game got off to a very even start with Avon playing a better-structured game putting them in a position to score the first goal.
A well-placed pass from Neil Sandford allowed Cory Astwood to show his worth first time playing for Avon and a very good goal. Avon tried a number of times through the first half but Broadway had started to work as a team and put up better defence and attack, ending the first half with three goals, Avon 1.
Second half was always going to be a challenge for Avon up against Broadway's strength and the Avon players did a great job of limiting Broadway. Sometimes putting the pressure back on Broadway with a couple of penalty corners. Broadway's strength carried them on to win 8-1.
It was, however, a very encouraging game for Avon as there are lots of new players coming into the team who all played very well; our young keeper had a big game earning him player of the day, Zen Dodunski. On Saturday, CMK Stratford A Women faced Te Kiri.
Both sides started slow. Stratford made some technical changes at halftime and came out firing, scoring eight more goals to make the final score 11-0. Goal scorers were Lara Williams 6, Isabel Jury 2, Jemma Prankerd, Janika Hey, and Harina Rupapera. Player of the day was Rupapera who was continuously making space and putting in a hard workload, which contributed to the end result.
Brian Darth Funeral Services A Men played New Plymouth Boys High School. Play bounced backwards and forwards throughout the game with some great skills on display from both teams. Stratford got the result they were after with a 4-2 win.
Matthew & Co Stratford B Women played Masters in New Plymouth. With a brand new side of women, Stratford went into the game with their focus on having fun and developing new skills.
Throughout the game, they worked well together with 11 players. Rachel Weren and Anissa Boyde worked hard throughout. Players of the day went to Demi Ward, who had an outstanding game in the goal and Pip Gordon who never gave up in her first ever hockey game.