Defending champs made to work in hockey season-openers

DERBY DUEL: YMP B’s Kellann Kemp (left) puts YMP A’s Moelani Tureia-Siataga under pressure in their Week 1 Poverty Bay senior women’s clash on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. Defending champions YMP A won 3-0. Picture by Paul Rickard

 by Scraggy

Gritty performances against both defending champions, a nine-goal blitz from Gisborne Boys’ High School and a Krystel Williams quadruple were among the highlights of Week 1 of the Poverty Bay senior hockey competitions.

After much anticipation from the local hockey fraternity, the 2023 season got under way on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve,

In women’s games, GMC Green were pushed for the first three quarters by a plucky Paikea before running away in the final stanza in a 5-0 victory.

Credit must go to the Paikea defensive trio of Kim Morete, Maika-Lee Gooch and Jade Lister-Baty, who kept the GMC attack at bay for much of the game.

Two great goals to Caroline MacLaurin led the way for the Green Machine.

It was the Krystel Williams show in the Friday 6pm game as her GMC Kowhai side produced a 6-0 victory over Te Aowera.

Williams opened her season account in style with four goals while Frances Neeson got a double.

It should be noted that Te Aowera tend to find their best form at the latter end of the season, so keep an eye on them.

Zeafruit Ngatapa and Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School could not be split over 70 minutes and shared the honours 1-all.

Ngatapa struck first with a Lulu Parker goal late in the first half.

Girls’ High coach Henry Mulligan, still working with new players and combinations, could manage a small smile after Pae Wilcox-Taylor locked up the scores.

The students had a penalty corner on fulltime but were unable to convert.

YMP B made reigning champions YMP A work hard for three competition points in a 3-0 scoreline.

Maia Rickard opened the scoring just before halftime but the YMP B defence held strong and kept the A team out until the last quarter during which Madison Savage and Lucy McHugh struck.

It was a promising performance from the B women. Other sides will do well not to take them lightly.

In men’s games, it was hard to see the smile through Gisborne Boys’ High School coach Wade Manson’s Grizzly Adams beard but it was there after after his team put on a great second half against YMP B.

Their 9-1 win reflected how well the young side gelled as the match played out.

Ollie Egan and Thomas Fletcher grabbed doubles as the students looked like a side who could develop into an extremely competitive unit.

Andrew Carter’s first-half goal saved YMP from the whitewash.

Defending champions YMP A would have the second half back if they could in their clash with Waituhi.

After striding out to a 3-0 lead at halftime, YMP couldn’t find the net from then on.

The young Waituhi side defended brilliantly in the second half to deny a YMP A outfit featuring a front line other teams could only dream of.

Tamany Tuhou scored twice for YMP A.

Lytton Old Boys Traktion made light work of clubmates LOB Resene Masters, racking up the goals in a a 14-0 blitz.

Jayden McKay’s four goals were a highlight.

The Masters, who like Te Aowera tend to peak late into the season, will be looking at defensive drills and plenty of penalty corner practice.

Women’S RESULTS —

GMC GREEN 5 (Caroline MacLaurin 2, Jade Stafford, Heni-Kamaia Thompson, Tori Wharepapa) PAIKEA 0.

GMC Kowhai 6 (Krystel Williams 4, Frances Neeson 2) Te Aowera 0.

ZEAFRUIIT NGATAPA 1 (Lulu Parker) Gisborne Girl’s High 1 (Pae Wilcox-Taylor).

YMP A 3 (Maia Rickard, Madison Savage, Lucy McHugh) YMP B 0.

Men’S RESULTS —

Gisborne Boys’ High 9  (Ollie Egan 2, Thomas Fletcher 2, Austin Fergus, Jack Fletcher, Harry Hayward, William Mathews, Dylan Storey) YMP B 1 (Andrew Carter).

YMP A 3 (Tamanay Tuhou 2, Heath Tupara) Waituhi  0.

LOB Traktion 14  (Jayden McKay 4, Patrick Ferry 2, Wade Manson 2, Oliver Shivnan 2, Jackson Horne 2, Aiden Scragg, Neal Ebbett) LOB Resene Masters 0.