Fighting efforts made highlights

A SHIRT-FRONT TACKLE: The hockey stick of Gisborne Boys’ High School’s Lachie Falloon (left) ends up down the shirt-front of YMP A player James Rutene after Rutene came sliding in to make the tackle. YMP won the match 24-0, and Rutene seemed none the worse for wear. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

FIGHTING performances by Te Aowera and LOB NZ Fruits, a win to YMP B men against LOB Masters, and big wins for GMC Green and both YMP top teams were highlights of weekend hockey.

In the women’s B Grade, Roseland Tavern Te Aowera and YMP B played one of the more entertaining games of the season. It ended 6-3 to YMP.

A hat-trick to Mel Knight made the difference.

“Well done TA,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“To score three goals was outstanding . . . and for YMP B it was a good way to stamp their authority early in the second round.”

In the other women’s B Grade game, GMC Kowhai continued on their way with a 4-1 win against GMC Gold.

“It was expected, and a good result for Kowhai,” Scragg said.

GMC Green made no contest of their clash with Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa, winning 9-1.

Jade Stafford hit four of the Green Machine goals and Kelsey Teneti got a hat-trick.

“The game was close up until the last quarter at 4-1, then GMC slotted five more goals in the final 17 and a half minutes,” Scragg said.

“Ngatapa contained them for periods of the game, but then GMC exploded.”

YMP A were too good for Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School, and beat them 5-0.

“It keeps YMP on their winning way, but I think it’s still a good effort by the students to hold the defending women’s champs to that sort of a score,” Scragg said.

The men’s YMP A team were merciless in their 24-0 demolition of Gisborne Boys’ High School.

A huge scoresheet was dominated by Heath Tupara with eight goals, Josh Cousins with seven and Jereme Taylor with five.

“Boys’ High held them in the final quarter, but the damage had been done earlier when YMP were rampant,” Scragg said.

“They were all over the students.”

THC were held 4-2 in their clash with Lytton Old Boys NZ Fruits.

“The Fruits had them on the ropes for a while; it was a very good performance,” Scragg said.

“But THC worked hard to reclaim the initiative and take the points.”

In the match of the weekend, the YMP B men beat LOB Masters 4-2.

“That was a cracking game, like a game of tennis, Scragg said.

“It was end-to-end stuff, and thrilling.

“YMP only took the lead in the last quarter.

“If we had that sort of a contest week in, week out, it would add so much flavour to the competition.”

Detailed results —Women, A Grade: GMC Green 9 (Jade Stafford 4, Kelsey Teneti 3, Megan Allen, Simone Grogan) Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa 1 (Jamie Tombleson); YMP A 5 (Lucy McHugh 3, Toni Halley, Maia Rickard) Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School 0.

Women, B Grade: GMC Kowhai 4 (Anita Howard 2, Karyn Egan, Shelley Waide) GMC Gold 1 (Jonette Rudge); YMP B 6 (Mel Knight 3, Mihi Hannah 2, Samantha Durston) Roseland Tavern Te Aowera 3 (Emma Chaffey 2, Lillian Hema).

Men: YMP A 24 (Heath Tupara 8, Josh Cousins 7, Jereme Taylor 5, Dylan Lardelli 2, Marshall Norris 2) Gisborne Boys’ High School 0; THC 4 (Troy Wharepapa 2, Hylam Tukariri, Henry Mohi) LOB NZ Fruits 2 (Wade Manson, Cole Manson); YMP B 4 (Te Rau Brown 2, Jason Akuhata-Brown, Andrew Carter) LOB Masters 2 (David Preddey, John Hockey).