Girls’ High finding their feet

GOING TO GROUND: Waituhi's Angus Thompson lies sprawled on the turf as YMP A's Gareth Knox heads upfield in a Poverty Bay men's club hockey game at Harry Barker Reserve. YMP won 9-1. Picture by Paul Rickard

BIG scores were a feature of Poverty Bay club hockey games with matching wins to Gisborne Boys' and Girls' High teams the standout results in terms of closer action.

In the women's competition, Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School defeated GMC Kowhai 5-2, with sisters Jess and Chloe Kapene scoring a brace each.

“That win was a good booster for the students,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said. “They have started slow in the competition this season but have started to find their feet lately, and this result demonstrates that. Kowhai will look to right the ledger next time they meet because they were in the game for long periods.”

Gisborne Boys' High also won 5-2 in their men's clash with Lytton Old Boys Masters.

“The Masters had them nil-all at the end of the first quarter but the students were up 3-2 by halftime,” Scragg said. “Their fitness got the better of the Masters in the second half.

“Boys' High have got their structure right this season and I think there's plenty more to come from this young side.”

In the other men's games, top-of-the-table YMP A beat Waituhi 9-1 and defending champions Lytton Old Boys HPY Advisors whitewashed YMP 14-0.

“The YMP scoreline was a surprise,” Scragg said. “Waituhi had no answer to their attacking flair and it was further proof why YMP A are at this stage the competition's best men's team.”

Josh Lardelli and Mitchell Hodgetts scored hat-tricks in LOB's romp.

“It was good see the LOB attack back on song,” Scragg said. “YMP B managed to get a full side out on the Hain Farming turf, which is encouraging for them. Despite the win, LOB will know there's a bit more work to do at training.”

In other women's games, INA Contracting GMC Green overpowered YMP B 8-0, including a hat-trick to Ana Fleming and a double to Juliarna Mitchell.

“That win keeps the Green Machine top of the table, unbeaten so far this season. For YMP B, though, they are still in the top four. The next couple of weeks will be interesting for them,” Scragg said.

Ngatapa women belted home 11 goals without reply against a plucky Te Aowera, including three each to Briar Robb and Sinneah Flannery.

“It was a dominant performance from Ngatapa,” Scragg said.

YMP A despatched Paikea 9-0, with Mel Knight scoring a hat-trick and Courtney Onekawa two goals.

“That was the surprise scoreline of the weekend,” Scragg said.

“It was nil-all at quarter-time, and only 2-0 at halftime, so Paikea were still in the hunt. But in the second half, YMP lifted their game a notch and ran away with it.”

results — Senior Women: GMC Kowhai 2 (Amie-lee Waiwai, Briar McLeely) Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High 5 (Chloe Kapene 2, Jess Kapene 2, Keeley Smiler).

INA Contracting GMC Green 8 (Ana Fleming 3, Juliarna Mitchell 2, Bridget Sabich, Noeline Smith, Tori Wharepapa) YMP B 0.

Te Aowera 0 Ngatapa 11 (Briar Robb 3, Sinneah Flannery 3, Viv Macpherson, Kate Pahina, Emily Willock, Jamie Tombleson, Olivia Abernathy).

Paikea 0 YMP A 9 (Mel Knight 3, Courtney Onekawa 2, Grace Kuil, Moe Tureia-Siataga, Maia Rickard, Lucy McHugh).

points: GMC Green 21, YMP A 15, YMP B 12, Ngatapa and Paikea 10, Girls' High 9, GMC Kowhai 6, Waituhi 0, Te Aowera 0.

Senior men: Gisborne Boys' High 1st XI 5 (Thomas Fletcher 2, Jack Willock Austin Fergus, Lachie Falloon) LOB Masters 2 ( Dave Preddey, Luke McLeod).

YMP A 9 (Tamanay Tuhou 3, Jeremy Taylor 3, Connor Todd, Heath Tupara, Kohere Tupara) Waituhi 1 (Tegan Brown).

YMP B 0 LOB HYP Advisors 14 (Josh Lardelli 3, Mitchell Hodgetts 3, Aaron Whitehead 2, Patrick Ferry 2, Dave Melville 2, Wade Mason, Elliot St John).

points: YMP A 21, LOB Advisors 18, Boys' High 10, Waituhi 7, Masters 6 and YMP B zero.

Secondary (June 27): Lytton 0 Campion 6 (Hamish Swann 3, Zayvier Renner-Mackey, Riley Murray, Fletcher Haar).

Gisborne Girls' High 2nd XI 0 Gisborne Boys' High 2nd XI 2 (Max Gaddum, Riley Knight).

Whatatutu won by default.

Intermediate (June 28): Manutuke 5 Gis Int Pawa 3, Gis Int Kiwa 3 Ilminster (1) 0, Gis Int Maia 5 Sonrise 2, Ilm A 1 Wairoa 2, Campion 5 Whatatutu 2.