Boost from fee cut

HOCKEY GOOD TO GO: Wholehearted play like this — in a game between YMP A (black-and-white shirts) and Lytton Old Boys B two years ago — could be just around the corner. All systems are go for the start of the Gisborne hockey competition the week after next. The secondary school teams will begin on June 22, and the senior teams play their first matches on June 26 and 27. File picture by Paul Rickard

The region's senior hockey players have got their sticks, pads and boots out of the cupboard and begun preparations for a June 26 start to a shortened season.

The switch to Alert Level 1 has opened the doors to full player and supporter participation on and around the artificial turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

More than 50 people turned up last Saturday for a working bee to prepare the turf and playing equipment.

Poverty Bay Hockey operations manager Louise Teneti said that showed how keen everyone was.

“They're really buzzing,” she said.

“The turnout last Saturday was amazing, really good.

“We believe we are going to have a lot more players than in previous years, because of the reduced fee structure . . . reduced because of the shortened season.

“A lot of people have come back into the game this season. The likes of Waituhi, for example, will rejoin the competition.”

Teneti said the association was still waiting for clubs to complete registrations, and then a draw for the 12-week season would be completed.

“We intend to have the first senior games on Friday, June 26, and then the rest of the first round on the Saturday.

“We are aiming for eight women's teams and five men's teams.

“The men's format will be slightly different from previous years, but the women's competition should operate as it normally does.”

Secondary school teams will start their season on Monday, June 22.

The intermediate and junior players will get their turn from the start of Term 3.

Some of the senior teams have been training on the turf this week.

GMC's Ngaio Haenga said everyone had been looking forward to getting out on the turf again.

“We had our first club training run on Wednesday night, and about 30 players turned up,” she said.

“They are keen and ready to go. Quite a few had been keeping fit during lockdown.”

Hockey commentator Tony Scragg said everyone was excited, and the revised fee structure looked attractive.

“It's great that it has attracted more players,” he said.

“There may still be some hesitation for some people about getting together, but now we are back to ‘normal' life under Alert Level 1, hockey will return to normal life too.

“And there will still be health protocols like hand-sanitising and turf-cleaning when the season begins.”