“The students will want to stamp their authority early in that Division 2 competition.”
In the second match, at 7.30pm, GMC Kowhai take on GMC Gold.
“Again a tight contest looms there,” Scragg said.
“Kowhai should go in as favourites but Gold have shown they will be no easybeats.”
The men feature in the two Friday night matches, with Gisborne Boys’ High School up against YMP A at 6pm tomorrow.
“The students will be up against it,” Scragg said,
“YMP are playing really good hockey. The challenge for Boys’ High will be to keep the scoreline to single figures.”
The second YMP team will be up against it when they meet THC at 7.30pm.
“THC will come at YMP B all guns blazing and, given it was 10-1 to THC last time, the challenge for YMP will be to improve on that sort of scoreline,” Scragg said.
The Saturday programme starts at 1pm with the women’s Division 1 match between YMP A and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa.
“The Ngatapa girls held YMP to four goals last week, so our aim is to repeat that sort of defensive effort,” Ngatapa coach Scragg said.
“It is going to be tough, though.
“Expect to see YMP A step up their campaign intensity now we are into a top-four/bottom-five competition.”
At 2.45pm, Lytton Old Boys A take on LOB NZ Fruits.
“I think LOB A might have turned the corner in their season and I expect they could well do better than the 12-0 result they achieved against NZ Fruits last time they played.”
In the final match of the round, at 4.30pm on Saturday, GMC Green take on JNL Paikea.
The “Green Machine” won 8-2 last time these teams met, and Scragg expects a similar sort of performance this time.
