Gisborne Boys’ High v LOB clash could be a cracker in Poverty Bay hockey

The defensive end of Waituhi will look to shut the Masters out in their match tomorrow. Carlos Babbington, Matt Pepere, Lauchlan Vause, Graham Edwards and George Whitehead are pictured in penalty corner action in a match from 2024. Photo / Paul Rickard

The points hunt continues in Poverty Bay club hockey on Saturday when Gisborne Boys’ High First XI and LOB Traktion go head to head in what looks set to be the game of the weekend.

Boys’ High and Lytton Paikea Sports Club LOB Traktion take to the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve at 12.30pm.

“The game of the round, I reckon,” Poverty Bay Hockey chairman Kohere Tupara said. “Both teams are fighting to keep up with Laidlaw YMP A.”

“Boys’ High got the better of Traktion in their last game (6-3), so Traktion will want to get back at them.”

The Wade Manson-coached students, having been depleted over the past two weekends of the school holidays, are expected to be back to near full-strength.

“That will make them dangerous, and Traktion will have to be right on their game,” Tupara said.

Waituhi play LPSC Resene Masters at 2pm in the second men’s game.

“Masters had a great afternoon in scoring four goals against Boys’ High [last Saturday] and they would love to secure their first of the season against Waituhi.

“But although Waituhi have struggled a bit this season, if they can put out a full-strength team, they should pip the Masters by one or two goals.”

The men’s table has defending champions Laidlaw YMP on top on 9 points for round 2, LPSC Traktion are on 6, Boys High 3, and the Masters and Waituhi 0.

Reigning champs GMC Green should take maximum points against Gisborne Girls’ High School in their women’s clash at 3.30pm.

“GMC will be too strong for the young girls, I suspect,” Tupara said. “They will want to build on the form they have shown us already this year.

“The girls will need to put in a big effort to stand any chance against them.”

The final game of the day pits PGG Wrightson Ngatapa against GMC Kowhai at 5pm.

“Ngatapa will want to get back into the winners’ circle after last weekend [a 5-0 loss to GMC Green]. But Kowhai show us every week they are not an easy team to beat.

“Ngatapa will need to be wary and finish off their chances.”

So far in round 2, the women’s table has LPSC Emerre and Hathaway Paikea on 7 points, GMC Green 6, and PGG Wrightson Ngatapa, Girls’ High and GMC Kowhai all on 1 point apiece.

Paikea and YMP men have byes this weekend.