Cream rises to the top

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER: GMC Green’s Kodi Campbell (left) and Paikea’s Amanda Smith contest possession in senior women’s hockey. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

THE top two senior women’s teams powered their way into the hockey premiership final at the weekend, and THC took no prisoners when they earned the right to join YMP A in the senior men’s final.

An in-form YMP A women’s team emulated their men’s team when they charged into the women’s A grade final.

They defeated Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa 5-1.

“YMP were were 2-1 up at halftime, so Ngatapa still had a chance at that stage,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“But a strong third quarter from YMP took the game away from Ngatapa.”

Scragg said it was a convincing performance.

“I thought Ngatapa played fairly well to keep in touch, but YMP were just too strong.”

GMC Green overpowered JNL Paikea 8-0 to advance to the Senior A women’s final with YMP A.

The goals were well shared around, with seven names on the Green Machine’s scoresheet.

“That was a totally convincing win to GMC.

“They played a complete game, and played as a team, which was just what they needed ahead of next weekend’s big final against YMP A.”

THC rediscovered their scoring mojo, thrashing Lytton Old Boys A 9-0 to grab the other A Grade men’s grand final berth against YMP A.

Chris Fox again dominated the THC scoresheet with five goals and Hoera Mohi got a brace.

“LOB A could field only nine players, so they were always going to be up against it, especially against a quality side like THC.

“It was certainly the bounce-back THC needed ahead of their final against a team (YMP A) who have beaten them convincingly three times in the past couple of months.”

Lytton Old Boys Masters jumped for joy when they qualified for the B Grade final, with a sudden-death shoot-out needed to settle their match against clubmates LOB B.

The Masters won 4-3 after the sides were tied 1-1 at the end of normal time.

David Fox had scored for LOB B and David Preddey, for the Masters.

The first shoot-out round ended 2-2, then in sudden death Tony Scragg stepped up, after LOB B had missed, to score the winner.

“The boys are still on a high, and really looking forward to a final,” Scragg said.

The Masters had not won a game all season before their win against YMP B the weekend before.

“To win two on the trot when it matters was just another miracle, and the old saying is ‘Miracles come in threes’.”

The Masters will play Gisborne Boys’ High School on Saturday to decide the men’s B Grade title.

GMC Kowhai had a solid 5-0 win against hard-working Te Aowera to wrap up one of the positions in the women’s B grade final.

“Kowhai started slowly; they took a while to get their first goal,” Scragg said.

“But they really found their form in the second half to run away with it.”

Kowhai will take on YMP B in the B Grade senior women’s final.

YMP B earned their spot in the final by beating GMC Gold 2-0.

“YMP B deserve a final,” Scragg said.

“Even though YMP’s win against Gold was fairly tight, Kowhai should be wary of them.”

Scoring details — Men: THC 9 (Chris Fox 5, Hoera Mohi 2, Tamanay Tuhou, Hone Pewhairangi) LOB A 0.

LOB Masters 1 ( Preddey) LOB B 1 (Fox). Shoot-out first round: Masters 2 (Tony Tombleson, Matt Skuse) LOB B 2 (Matt King, Danny Kirk). Sudden-death shoot-out: Masters 1 (Tony Scragg) LOB B 0.

Women: GMC Kowhai 5 (Emma Seymour 2, Nicole Brown, Sacha Burns, Shelley Waide) Te Aowera 0.

YMP B 2 (Mel Knight, Samantha Durston) GMC Gold 0.

GMC Green 8 (Anita Howard 2, Kodi Campbell, Amy England, Shannon Williams, Jade Stafford, Kelsey Teneti, Ana Haenga) JNL Paikea 0.

YMP A 5 (Phoebe Bint 2, Morgan Tuhou, Courtney Onekawa, Skylah Pohatu) Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa 1 (Jamie Humphreys).