HISTORY MADE: Tauranga under-15 girls' hockey team and supporters celebrate after winning bronze at the nationals. Photo / Supplied
HISTORY MADE: Tauranga under-15 girls' hockey team and supporters celebrate after winning bronze at the nationals. Photo / Supplied
Under-15 girls side become first premiers in new comp
The Tauranga rep team made history by winning the association's first medal at the National Under-15 Premier Girls Tournament held during the recent school holidays.
The team made it through to the semi-final bronze medal match, where they snatched a victory from Wellington.
"Every year Tauranga Hockey sends age grouprepresentatives away to week-long national tournaments to compete with other regions around the country. This year the under-15 premier girls went to Whangarei," team manager Karen Collins said.
"The girls trained hard all season under experienced coach Paul Collins. They had a successful week and were very excited to win their quarter-final against North Harbour, making them top four in the tournament. They met a slick Canterbury team in the semi-final and were unlucky to lose 2 goals to 1. They finished the tournament in a very exciting game against Wellington, scoring off a penalty corner in the second minute of extra time to win a bronze medal. This was made even more exciting as Tauranga has never won a medal at this tournament before.
"The girls had a fantastic week on and off the field. Also Bethany Millar, our Tauranga umpire who travelled with the team and umpired all week, was selected to umpire the final between Auckland and Canterbury."
