Hockey: Mixed results for Otumoetai sides

Mount Maunganui Hockey Club captain Garth Moran, holding the men's plate trophy.

Otumetai Hockey Club came home from the Midlands Intercity Hockey League finals day at Hamilton's Gallagher Hockey Centre with a satisfying third place for their women's team, and a disappointing fourth place for their men's team.

Otumoetai Magic defeated an under-strength Rotorua Aces line-up by 5-2 in the women's playoff for third, with four members of the team sharing the goals. Abbie Johnston scored twice, with Brooke Picken and Dani Maunder also adding to the score. The other Otumoetai player to contribute to the scoreboard was Sam Curtis, who will be pushing for a place in the White Ferns cricket squad.

Bayley's Otumoetai men, who had won the past two Midlands Intercity titles, found the going tougher this season with the Waikato clubs having rejoined the league. Following their 2-3 loss to Te Awamutu in the semi-final last week, Otumoetai looked flat in the play-off for third place in Hamilton and were defeated 4-2 by Suburbs-Piako. After turning at halftime with scores level 2-2, Suburbs played with purpose, while Otumoetai lacked intensity and were bundled out of the game by two well-converted penalty corners.

In the Women's Plate final, Waikato University defeated Onewhero-Pukekohe 4-2, while CMS Mt Maunganui took out the Men's Plate with a resounding 7-2 win over Aces from Rotorua.

Hamilton Old Boys and Thames Valley United were victorious in the men's and women's finals respectively.

In an all-Waikato men's final, Hamilton Old Boys looked imperious as they overwhelmed Te Awamutu 6-0. Former Black Stick Richard Petherick marshalled the defence well for Hamilton Old Boys and a speedy set of strikers scored with increasing regularity as the game progressed to an inevitable outcome.

The women's final also saw the winners score six times, as defending Intercity champions Thames Valley United retained the trophy with a 6-2 stampede over Fraser Tech.

Tauranga hockey's media liaison officer Bill Webb says the Midlands Intercity championship is richer from the return of the Waikato clubs, and hockey benefits from a true provincial competition.

"However, the pool structure in the men's competition requires improvement next season with larger pools," he said. "And both men's and women's divisions should not be blighted by deferred games - top clubs must have the depth to field teams in spite of a handful of players being called away for representative commitments."

-Results

Women's Championship: Thames Valley United 6 (Natasha Fitzsimon 2, Kate Kernaghan 2, Maddi Tims, Ellie McCleery) beat Fraser Tech 2 (Chloe Nesbitt, Julia Ebert), HT 4-1. For third place: Otumoetai Magic 5 (Abbie Johnston 2, Sam Curtis, Brooke Picken, Dani Maunder) defeated Rotorua Aces 2 (Stacey MacDonald, T Robinson). Halftime: 1-0.

Women's Plate: Waikato Uni 4 (Olivia Scotland 2, Megan Hull 2) beat Onewhero-Pukekohe 2 (Deni Murray, Tiffany Parry), HT 1-0. For third place: CMS Mt Maunganui 3 (Holly Brogan, Molly Fitzgerald, Georgia Craig) beat Katikati Cougars 1 (Anna Henson). Halftime: 2-0.

Men's Championship: Hamilton Old Boys 6 (Kyle Westerman 2, Connor Herewini, Richard Petherick, Aidan Sarikaya, Jamie Macaulay) beat Te Awamutu 0, HT 2-0. For third place: Suburbs Piako 4 (Liam Brake, Estian Hattingh, Ethan Hawke, Ryan Brewer) defeated Bayley's Otumoetai 2 (Hugh Gilmer, Tyler Bruin). Halftime: 2-2.

Men's Plate: CMS Mt Maunganui 7 (John Preece 2, Billy Emeny 2, Blair Parlane, Henry Te Kani, Nick Trebilcock) beat Rotorua Aces 2 (Owen Mitai-Wells 2), HT 4-1. For third place: Waikato Uni 4 (Dave Hannah 2, Abir Mukherjee, Shane Laurids) beat Kohekohe 0. Halftime: 2-0.