Hayden Bruin was on target twice as Bayleys Otumoetai beat Thames Valley 5-1. Photo / File
With the semifinals looming, there was considerable interest in the Midlands Intercity hockey matches last weekend.
Leading local club Bayleys Otumoetai had a convincing 5-1 win over Thames Valley in the men's Championship division, and qualified second on the table.
Otumoetai will host Te Awamutu in one of the semifinals next week, after Te Awamutu accounted for Suburbs 5-1 at Hamilton.
Otumoetai dominated Valley to lead 3-0 at the break, then extended the lead to 5-0 before Todd Bell put a well-volleyed goal past the Otumoetai keeper late in the game.
For Otumoetai, Hayden Bruin scored twice, with Rob Bell and Tyler Bruin also contributing to the scoreboard.
Leaders Hamilton Old Boys demolished BOP Indians 7-1 in Rotorua, and will meet Suburbs in the other championship semifinal next week.
In the men's Plate competition, CMS Mt Maunganui drew 3-all with Waikato University at the Tauranga Hockey Centre. In an evenly contested encounter, the Mount team scored first but each of their goals was answered by the students.
Mt Maunganui travelled to Rotorua to play a catch-up game with Aces on Sunday and were defeated 2-1 in a tight match. Aces had handsomely beaten Onewhero 13-3 on Saturday, so their points from the two wins at the weekend pushed them into second place on the table.
Kohekohe overwhelmed Waiau Pa 4-0 at Pukekohe and finished clear leaders on the table. Kohekohe will host Mt Maunganui in the first Plate semifinal next Saturday, with Aces hosting University in the other decider.
The women's championship matches all finished with predictable results, with Otumoetai having the closest game - a 2-1 victory over Hamilton Old Girls.
Last year's champions, Thames Valley United, progressed to the semifinals as the only unbeaten team in the league, after defeating Otumoetai 4-2 last Tuesday in a deferred game, then comprehensively dissecting Te Awamutu 12-0 on Saturday.
Fraser Tech had a comfortable 5-0 win over Aces at Rotorua to finish second on the table.
As a result, Valley will meet Aces in the first women's semifinal, while Otumoetai travel to Hamilton to meet Fraser Tech in the second playoff.
CMS Mount drew 2-all with Marist St Michaels in the women's Plate match, where Oriwa Hepi was very prominent in keeping Marist in the game.
Katikati Cougars found the going tough in their encounter with the visiting Onewhero club from Counties-Manukau, but fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw level before Onewhero scored again just before the interval. The visitors extended their lead in the second spell to finish victorious 5-3. Franki Traini stood out for Katikati.
In Hamilton, University overcame Suburbs 5-0.
In Saturday's semifinal action for the Plate, top-of-the table University host Katikati, while Mt Maunganui will host Onewhero.
-Results:
Men's Championship: Bayleys Otumoetai 5 (Hayden Bruin 2, Rob Bell 2, Tyler Bruin) defeated Thames Valley United 1 (Todd Bell), HT 3-0; Hamilton Old Boys 7 defeated BOP Indians 1, HT 5-1; Te Awamutu 5 (Jamie Brewer 2, Zane Anderson, Stuart Laird, Rhys McLachlan) defeated Suburbs Piako 1 (Aaron McNabb), HT 2-0; Pukekohe Indians 3 (Ryan Potter, Wade Somali, Umesh Hari) defeated Fraser Tech 2, HT 0-1.
Men's Plate: Kohekohe 4 defeated Waiau Pa 0, HT 2-0; Waikato University 3 (Abir Mukherjee, Gourav Corea, Tony Hopping) drew with CMS Mt Maunganui 3 (Billy Emeny, P Manu, Denym Clarke); Rotorua Aces 13 defeated Onewhero-Pukekohe 3; Tauranga Old Boys - bye. Deferred game played Sunday: Rotorua Aces 2 defeated CMS Mt Maunganui 1.
Women's Championship: Otumoetai Magic 2 (Abbie Johnston 2) defeated Hamilton Old Girls 1 (Olivia Bloor), HT 1-1; Thames Valley United 12 defeated Te Awamutu 0, HT 5-0; Fraser Tech 5 (Acacia Kelsen 2, Chloe Nesbitt, Jules Zylstra, Freya Pike) defeated Rotorua Aces 0, HT 4-0. Deferred game played last Tuesday: Thames Valley United 4 (Natasha Fitzsimons, Alia Jaques, Kate Kernaghan, Kelsey Lewis) defeated Otumoetai Magic 2 (S Samson, Abbie Johnston) HT 2-1.
Women's Plate: CMS Mt Maunganui drew with Marist St Michaels 2-2, HT 1-0; Waikato University 5 defeated Suburbs Piako 0, HT 4-0; Onewhero-Pukekohe 5 defeated Katikati 3, HT 3-2.