Bay age-group hockey teams ‘punching above their weight’

Poverty Bay teams are “punching above their weight” in age-group hockey tournaments, Poverty Bay Hockey Association operations manager Louise Teneti says.

The under-13 girls’ team — coached by Emily Willock and managed by Tina Smallman — won the Rawleigh Trophy tournament in Levin.

The u13 boys’ team — coached by Gareth Knox and managed by Mary Reedy — were fourth overall in the Curtis Cup tournament in Stratford.

And the u15 girls’ team — coached by Teneti and managed by Va Batisaresare — were third overall in the championship tournament in Carterton.

“They were brilliant results,” Teneti said.

Poverty Bay u13 girls had won the Rawleigh Trophy twice in the past three years, the u15 girls had improved their ranking from 21st to third in three years, and the u13 boys had been steady in their top-four placings in recent times, she said.

Factors in those results included the contribution of senior players through their coaching of junior teams, and the provision of artificial turf for the past four seasons.

Fundraising support from the wider hockey community — with additional funding from the New Zealand Racing Board — meant junior teams were able to get to outside tournaments and show they could match teams from the larger regions.

To illustrate the difference in player resources, Teneti said 11 girls had shown up at trials for the Poverty Bay u15 girls team, and 14 had gone to the tournament.

In contrast, 100 players had shown up at trials for the Wellington team.

“Poverty Bay hockey is certainly punching above its weight,” Teneti said.

She said thanks were due to coaches and managers, as well as whanau who travelled to support their young people, and the Tairawhiti community for their continued support of local hockey.