Form teams will be tough to beat

Deflected wide: Ngatapa goalkeeper Tessa Boys deflects a shot from a penalty corner wide of the goal as Paikea’s Danielle Carrington (left) tries to get a scoring touch and Ngatapa defender Lulu Vermeulen (centre) covers the goalkeeper. Ngatapa lost this match 3-2 and will aim to bounce back when they take on YMP B tomorrow evening.Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

FORM should be the best guide in the fourth series of games in Round 1 of the Poverty Bay hockey competition this weekend.

The women get first use of the LJ Hooker Turf tonight when GMC Green and GMC Gold meet at 6pm.

“The Green Machine started well last weekend with plenty of goals, and I expect they will be too strong for their clubmates,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“The Gold side have played better than indicated by their big loss to YMP A last weekend.

“But they can expect more of the same pressure from the Green team tonight.

“YMP beat GMC Gold by seven goals, so it will be interesting to see if Gold can hold their clubmates to something similar.”

Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School have won both their games so far, and they can be expected to maintain that unbeaten run in their 7.30pm game against Te Aowera tonight.

“Girls’ High will want to make a real statement in the women’s competition, and I expect them to do that tonight,” Scragg said.

The Saturday games start at midday tomorrow, with YMP B to play Lytton Old Boys B.

“That should be the closest game of the weekend,” Scragg said.

“Those two teams are fairly evenly matched.”

Scragg said LOB B would probably start as slight favourites, given their big result two weeks ago.

“They proved in their win against the Masters that they know how to find the back of the net.”

At 1.45pm, THC play Gisborne Boys’ High School.

“This will be a real test for Boys’ High,” Scragg said.

“They have looked good in their previous matches, but they had last weekend off and it remains to be seen if that has affected their preparations.”

On the other hand, THC would want to keep the wins going.

“They have looked good and in control in their matches,” Scragg said.

“I would expect that to continue tomorrow afternoon.”

At 3.30pm, YMP A take on Lytton Old Boys Masters.

“The Masters have a team this weekend and we will need everyone — the full complement — to foot it with the top YMP men,” said Scragg, who plays for the Masters.

“If we can keep the scoreline under a baker’s dozen it will be a good result for us.”

The women get back on the turf to finish the weekend.

YMP A meet JNL Paikea at 5.15pm.

“That could be the women’s match of the round,” Scragg said.

“YMP have looked impressive but not overly so, and Paikea have shown glimpses of what they can do. It could be close.”

At 7pm, YMP B take on Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa in the final match of the weekend.

“It’s important for the Ngatapa girls that they bounce back from last weekend’s narrow loss to Paikea,” Ngatapa co-coach Scragg said.

“The girls were pretty happy with how they went in that 3-2 loss.

“But they also know they have to lift it a notch against an unpredictable YMP B side.”