CONSOLATION: Cory Bruin scored the only goal for Bayleys Otumoetai in their 5-1 defeat to Tauranga Old Boys. A_260414aw04BOPHockey
CONSOLATION: Cory Bruin scored the only goal for Bayleys Otumoetai in their 5-1 defeat to Tauranga Old Boys. A_260414aw04BOPHockey
Tauranga Old Boys achieved something in Intercity hockey last Saturday that they could only dream about last season when they walloped Bayleys Otumoetai by the astounding margin of 5-1.
Tauranga Old Boys were strengthened with the arrival back in town of international goalie Steve Graham, plus some useful players whotransferred to Old Boys when the Mount Hockey Club could not muster an Intercity team at the start of the 2016 season.
The signs were there in the 2-2 draw between Old Boys and Otumoetai when they met in pool play last month. But Otumoetai were unprepared for the firepower that Old Boys displayed on Saturday. Within the first 11 minutes Old Boys had rattled in three goals.
The first a penalty corner flick from Denym Clarke, the second a field goal by captain Sam Bonney, followed less than a minute later by another by Blair Parlane.
Otumoetai's normally well-organised defence had been caught on the hop, but they played their way back into the game. Jono Simmonds worked hard up-front for Otumoetai, however Steve Graham kept his goal intact until Cory Bruin sneaked in a PC goal early in the second half.
Denym Clarke responded with one for Old Boys, Abir Mukherjee was energetic for Old Boys, and Blair Parlane scored his second goal to take Old Boys' full time tally to 5-1.
Meanwhile in Hamilton, last year's champions Hamilton Old Boys were beaten by Fraser Tech 3-2. In Pukekohe, BOP Indians lost a couple of players to suspensions and were overwhelmed 8-0 by Pukekohe Indians. The match between Suburbs and Te Awamutu was deferred due to players engaged on representative duty at the National Under-18 tournament.
Midlands won the men's trophy at Under-18 Tournament at Palmerston North defeating North Harbour 5-3 in a penalty shootout after the teams were locked 0-0 at the end of regulation time.
