Exciting games in store

BLOCKED PASS: Lytton Old Boys’ Oliver Shivnan (right) tries to block the pass of Alex Hyland, of YMP A, in club hockey on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. YMP will be out to stop LOB from recording three wins in a row against them. File picture by Paul Rickard

Quarterfinal time throws up some juicy prospects for play in the hockey competition this weekend and the spotlight falls on four games in particular.

The first of them will start the Saturday programme in style when YMP take on GMC Green.

YMP were clear winners when the teams met in last weekend’s final round-robin game in the women’s A Grade. They will want to reinforce that statement with another strong performance.

“There will be an air of confidence in the YMP side but they will be very wary of what happened last year, when GMC Green won the title against the run of play previously between the two teams,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“Let’s hope it’s a nice close tussle. It would not surprise to see these two teams meeting again in the final.”

The match starts at 12.30pm tomorrow on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

The match that follows should be a cracking game, too, when Paikea take on Waituhi at 2pm.

“It was 2-0 to Paikea when these teams met last weekend. That could be an indicator of another close contest tomorrow.”

The thrills continue at 3.30pm when Ngatapa play Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School.

“Ngatapa won well last time,” Scragg said. “Tomorrow is another day, though.

“This one is do or die — the losers drop out — so both teams will be going their hardest.

“Ngatapa will go in as favourites after previous results, but you cannot write the students off.”

The fourth standout match this weekend is the men’s quarterfinal between Lytton Old Boys NZ Fruits and YMP A at 5pm tomorrow.

Twice in a row the Fruits have bettered the YMP top side.

“It’s set to be a big game,” Scragg said.

“All the pressure goes on the Fruits to make it three from three, and that’s something YMP will try very hard to deny them.

“I can see another narrow victory to the Fruits if they play the style of hockey we’ve seen from them so far.”

The saving grace for the losing team is that they get a second life.

The weekend programme begins at 6pm tonight with a women’s B Grade game between GMC Kowhai and Te Aowera.

“Kowhai are on a winning streak, with 12 goals against the same team last weekend,” he said.

“Let’s see what fight the TA side are able to put up this time.”

Then at 7.30pm the Waituhi men take on LOB Masters.

“That should be a good game, too,” Scragg said.

“Waituhi have been playing well against the Masters all year and they will not want to let the result in this game stand in their way of making the finals.”