Conditions were ideal for hockey at Tauranga Hockey Centre on Saturday. Photo / File
Another win to Mount Maunganui on Saturday elevated them to clear leaders on the women's points table in the Midlands Intercity Hockey championship, courtesy of a 4-all draw between the other front-runners University and Fraser Tech.
The Mount hosted Waiau Pa from Counties Manukau at the Tauranga Hockey Centre and
built their game slowly but steadily to lead 2-1 at the halftime interval with goals by Gemma Lucas and Holly Sprosen. Three further goals gave Mount Maunganui a comfortable 5-1 victory over Waiau Pa, with Gemma Lucas adding a second to her tally and Katie Horan finishing off two penalty corners.
Kate Savory controlled the Mount's play with precision at centre-half, while the visitors' goalie Lana White had a lot to do and performed well.
In the late game, Otumoetai women locked horns with Te Awamutu, and it looked as if it was going to be a scoreless first half until Otumoetai's Chelsea Roper scored just before the siren.
It took another 20 minutes of close play for Otumoetai to again find the net, from energetic Dani Maunder. And that was the sum total of the goals in their 2-0 victory. Defender Nikki Harnett stood out for Otumoetai, and Waiau Pa's Luisa Balsam was prominent for the losers.
