Big games on the cards

REPLAY: A feature match in the hockey this weekend has to be the replay of last year’s womens’ grade grand final when YMP A take on GMC Green. Last year’s action featured Moelani Tureia-Siataga for YMP and the Green Machine’s Kelsey Teneti. File picture

Matches between arch-rivals GMC Green and YMP A in the women’s division and Gisborne Boys’ High and Lytton Old Boys in the men’s competition are shaping up as the games of the round in Poverty Bay club hockey.

The INA Contracting GMC Green and YMP A women’s clash at 2pm on Saturday on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve speaks for itself.

“Both teams go in unbeaten,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg says.

“Neither have been put to the test to this point of the season and this sort of game will more than anything be about the mental side. The winners will have a mental edge moving forward in the season.”

GBHS take on LOB HPY Advisors at 7.30pm tomorrow night.

“Boys High will put them to the test,” Scragg says. “The students’ performance against Waituhi, that ended in a draw, said a lot about the character of the young team.

“The Advisors will need to be on song in their defensive circle.”

The round starts tonight with YMP B women against Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa at 6.30pm.

“YMP B are unbeaten too so far this season,” Scragg says. “Tonight, though, will be a really big test for them against a Ngatapa team who have been performing well against the other top teams in the women’s competition.

“I think Ngatapa might sneak through by the narrowest of margins.”

The other Friday night fixture pits YMP A men against LOB Masters at 6pm.

“The Masters defended well against the Advisors two weeks ago,” says Scragg, who plays for the Masters. “But we will need to be wary of a very good attacking side in YMP. We expect plenty of goals — double figures probably.

YMP B men face Waituhi on Saturday at 12.30pm.

“Waituhi all the way there,” Scragg says. “They’ll be red hot favourites against a YMP B side who have been struggling. The B team will look to keep the scoreboard respectable.”

Paikea women take on Te Aowera at 3.30pm on Saturday.

“The ladies in pink of Paikea should be too strong and by a margin.

The round concludes at 5pm with the match between GMC Kowhai and Waituhi.

Scragg says both go in having yet to register a point so will be hungry for victory.