Dani Maunder scores four for Otumoetai

IN CONTROL: Mt Maunganui's Kate Savory on attack against Marist St Michael's. PHOTO: ANDREW WARNER

Otumoetai overcame third-ranked Waikato University 4-2 in the main women's game at Tauranga in the Midlands Intercity hockey championship on Saturday.

In an impressive display, striker Dani Maunder scored all four goals for Otumoetai.

Mt Maunganui women were stunned by cellar-dwellers Rotorua Marist, when Marist were first to score in the third minute. However, normal service resumed when the Mount scored four unanswered goals before halftime, then scored four more in the second half. Abbie Johnston scored five in their 8-1 win.

Katikati travelled across the Kaimai Range to take on Te Awamutu, and fought out a scoreless draw for their fourth draw of the championship.

The two local clubs in the men's Intercity League, Otumoetai and Tauranga Old Boys, failed a week ago to make the cut for the top-eight championship round and are playing off with five other clubs for the men's Plate.

They met in a local derby on Saturday and Otumoetai found Tauranga Old Boys to be tough opponents. Locked up 1-all at halftime, it took penalty corner successes by Connor Garner and Hugh Gilmer to separate the teams and secure a 3-1 win for Otumoetai. Matt Pinkerton was prominent for Old Boys and scored their only goal.

In the men's championship division, last year's winners Hamilton Old Boys were upset 3-1 by Kohekohe at the Pukekohe hockey park.

Results
Women's championship
Te Awamutu 0 Katikati 0; Hamilton Old Girls 0 Rotorua Aces 0; Mount Maunganui 8 Marist 1, HT 4-1; Suburbs 4 Valley 0; Fraser Tech 17 Waiau Pa 0, HT 6-0; Otumoetai 4 Waikato University 2, HT 1-0.
Points: Fraser Tech 24, Hamilton Old Girls 19, University 18, Mount Maunganui 17, Te Awamutu 14, Otumoetai 12, Suburbs 9, Waiau Pa 8, Katikati 7, Aces 6, Marist 1, Thames Valley 0.

Men's championship
Kohekohe 3 Hamilton Old Boys 1, HT 1-0; Te Awamutu 5 Pukekohe Indians 2; Waikato Collegians 8 BOP Indians 2, HT 3-1; Waikato University 2 Fraser Tech 1, HT 1-0.
Points Collegians 3, Te Awamutu 3, Kohekohe 3, University 3, Fraser Tech 0, Hamilton Old Boys 0, Pukekohe Indians 0, BOP Indians 0.

Men's plate
Suburbs 4 Onewhero-Pukekohe 1, HT 2-1; Waiau Pa 2 Thames Valley 1, HT 1-1; Otumoetai 3 Tauranga Old Boys 1, HT 1-1; Rotorua Aces the bye.
Points: Suburbs 3, Otumoetai 3, Waiau Pa 3, Tauranga Old Boys 0, Thames Valley 0, Onewhero-Pukekohe 0, Aces 0