Hockey Ngatapa v GMC Gold - Goal, Jessie McNeil
THE YMP women qualified handsomely, GMC Green got through in a penalty shoot-out, and the YMP men's teams will meet in the hockey finals next weekend.
YMP were clinical in the second half of their match against Paikea to seal one spot in the women's championship final on Saturday.
The teams were locked at 0-0 at halftime, but YMP scored four goals in the second half to put the result beyond doubt.
“They are certainly the red-hot favourites for the women's championship, but Paikea made them work hard for it,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.
“At halftime Paikea were right in it.
“But YMP attacked a bit more in the second half and made the most of their opportunities.
“Congratulations to Paikea. In my view, they were by far the most improved side this year in our hockey competition.”
In the other women's championship semifinal, GMC Green and Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School were locked up 1-1 at the end of normal time.
A shoot-out was needed to separate them and GMC won it 3-1.
“Girls' High got off to the best start they could in scoring first in normal time, but the Green Machine quickly replied and everything they threw at the Girls' High defence, the students were able to cope with.
“But Girls' High were not able to take their chances in the shoot-out.”
Scragg said the Green Machine would have been given a wake-up call by the youngsters ahead of the final.
The YMP men's teams will meet in the men's final to decide the winner of the Covid Cup.
Both teams won well, with the No.1 team beating Lytton Old Boys NZ Fruits 7-2.
“It was a very convincing win for YMP (1),” Scragg said.
“They have certainly come on strong in the past two or three weeks and changed their fortunes,” Scragg said.
“The Fruits did not have enough in the tank by way of response.”
YMP (2) beat Gisborne Boys' High School 5-1.
“Boys' High put in a gutsy effort, but a very clinical YMP were just too good for them,” Scragg said.
The women's bottom four semis were won by Ngatapa and GMC Kowhai, who will play each other in Saturday's bottom-four final.
The GMC team scored only one goal against a gallant Waituhi, but that was enough.
“Kowhai's goal came in the final few minutes of the match and finished what would have been a dream run to the end of the season for Waituhi,” Scragg said.
“We have certainly welcomed Waituhi back into our competition with open arms this season. They have brought their own special brand of hockey.”
Ngatapa put seven unanswered goals into the back of the net against GMC Gold.
“It was just the sort of performance that the Ngatapa girls needed before the final at the weekend,” Scragg said.
“The win was built on a strong attack in the first half.”
Ngatapa led 5-0 at the break.
“The foot could have stayed a bit more on the pedal in the second half, though, and Ngatapa need to be wary of that on finals day.”
Detailed results — Women's senior top-four semifinals: GMC Green 4 (Amy England, Lee-Ana Fleming, Jade Stafford, Shannon Williams) Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School 2 (Keeley Smiler, Oaklea Bowden-Morris); YMP 4 (Toni Halley, Maia Rickard, Courtney Onekawa, Kodi Campbell) Paikea 0.
Women's senior bottom-four semifinals: GMC Kowhai 1 (Joanna Sim) Waituhi 0; Ngatapa 7 (Lilly Deihl 2, Jessie McNeil 2, Deana Cook, Bree Munro, Briar Hunter) GMC Gold 0.
Men's senior semifinals: YMP (2) 5 (Kohere Tupara 2, Josh Cousins, Michael Bond, Tamanay Tuhou) Gisborne Boys' High School 1 (Harry Allan); YMP (1) 7 (Jarrod Carter 3, Hylam Tukariri 2, Jereme Taylor 2) LOB Fruits 2 (Patrick Ferry, Wade Manson).