Enthralling start expected in weekend hockey round

Close match-up: Ngatapa's Emily Willock (right) gets the ball past defending Gisborne Girls' High School's Briana Ingoe. Ngatapa are up against GMC Green tonight at 6.30pm. Picture by Liam Clayton

The weekend hockey round should get off to an enthralling start when Ngatapa and GMC Green go head to head at Harry Barker Reserve tonight.

INA Contracting GMC Green will step on to the Hain Farming Turf unbeaten so far in the women's competition, while Ngatapa are coming off a narrow loss to YMP A and two good victories.

“I think only a couple of goals will separate these teams tonight,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“Ngatapa showed some real grit against YMP A a few weeks ago and if they work on their third-quarter performance defence-wise, they could make it really interesting.

“The Green Machine, on the other hand, have started strongly and will come at them hard.”

The game starts at 6.30pm.

Friday night hockey starts at 6pm with the YMP A women playing Waituhi.

“I think the match will turn out to be one-way traffic in YMP's favour,” Scragg said.

“They are playing very good attacking hockey. Waituhi will need to defend really well to stay in it.”

At 7.30pm tomorrow night, Gisborne Boys' High School play Waituhi.

“That could be the men's game of the round,” Scragg said.

“Boys' High are backing up from a good win against Lytton Old Boys Masters and Waituhi will have taken heart from their close game against YMP A last weekend.”

Saturday's action starts at 12.30pm with GMC Kowhai in action against Paikea.

“That should be a close game, although Paikea will go in as favourites, and they will welcome back Amber Church and Jo Cummings.”

At 2pm, YMP B play Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School.

“Girls' High will start as hot favourites, but YMP B have had two wins on the trot so they'll be brimming with confidence,” Scragg said.

“I think the students' fitness will tell in the end.”

The men get back on the turf at 3.30pm with the LOB Masters against LOB HPY Advisors.

“It's a clash of the clubmates, but I don't expect the Advisors will take any prisoners,” Scragg said.

“They piled on the goals last week so the Masters might struggle to get out of their half.”

The weekend's play concludes with the match between YMP A and YMP B at 5pm on Saturday.

“That's another clash of clubmates,” Scragg said.

“The B side have struggled for numbers, and that was a telling factor last week.

“I expect we will see a Tamanay Tuhou/James Torrie show, with plenty of goals.”