Clash under lights

The early-season form book should give clues as to the outcome of most of the senior hockey games this weekend, starting tonight with the clash between GMC Kowhai and YMP A in the women's competition.

The two sides take the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve at 6.30pm tonight.

“YMP should be too strong for Kowhai,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“Kowhai come into the game off a bye, so they should be fresh, but they will be up against a dominant attacking side in YMP, who have started the season strongly.”

The Friday night matches begin at 6pm tomorrow with the women's match between Ngatapa and Waituhi.

Ngatapa would be favoured.

“That's the clash of the country neighbours, and Ngatapa go into it on the back of a very good performance against YMP A last weekend,” Scragg said.

“Waituhi struggled for the first half of their game against Gisborne Girls' High last weekend, but showed they could go the distance with a stronger second half.

“They will need to do that again to stay in touch with Ngatapa.”

In the second match, at 7.30pm, YMP A and Waituhi will clash in the men's competition and YMP A must go in as hot favourites,

“YMP piled on the points last weekend but this could be a game to help them test their defence,” Scragg said.

The Saturday programme begins at 12.30pm with the men's game between YMP B and Lytton Old Boys HPY Advisors.

“The LOB outfit will be looking to back up after a solid win last weekend,” Scragg said.

“The major challenge for YMP B will be player numbers.”

They had to default at the weekend.

“YMP B will need all the numbers they can get against the defending men's champions, who have looked in good form,” Scragg said.

At 2pm Gisborne Boys' High School take on LOB Masters.

“That will be a game of speed and youthfulness from the students, up against the old guys who have all the tricks up their sleeves,” Scragg said.

“I would expect Boys' High to run the Masters around the turf and come out on top.”

Scragg said he would be excited to come up against his son Aiden in the Boys' High line-up.

“The winner shouts tea.”

In the 3.30pm game, Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School play INA Contracting GMC Green.

“That could be the game of the weekend,” Scragg said.

“The students did well against Waituhi, particularly in the first half.

“But they will be up against a GMC line-up who scored a lot of goals last weekend.

“GMC will be a handful for them, but this could also be quite a test for the GMC defence against a students' team brimming with confidence.”

Scragg reckons Girls High's Keeley Smiler proved such a handful for Waituhi to deal with, she may well be a handful against the Green Machine.

The 5pm game to finish the day's play pits Te Aowera against YMP B.

“The YMP seconds scored a good win last weekend, so they'll be confident.

“TA will hopefully get a chance to show their attacking ability more this weekend.”