GMC Green, YMP 2 win

Hockey Womens Final - YMP v GMC Green - (Back) - Shelley Waide, Krissy Hohepa, Amy England, Anahera Whaanga-Smith, Olivia Abernethy, Shannon Williams, Jade Stafford, Nellie Brown, Caroline Maclaurin, Michelle Hills, Beth Torrie, Megan Allen - (Front) - Jess Candy, Caitlin Waide, Alesha Batisaresare, Lee-Ana Fleming with Cullen and Rebecca Fleming, Ngaio Haenga

THE Green Machine went back to back in the Poverty Bay senior women's hockey championship on Saturday and YMP 2 hoisted the Covid Cup in the men's final.

GMC Green defeated YMP 2-1 in a thrilling end-to-end contest to decide the women's title for 2020, and to win for the second consecutive year.

“The final was best described as a shock victory for GMC,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“YMP went into it undefeated for the whole season, so it just goes to show it all comes down to the performance on the day, and the Green Machine certainly delivered that.”

Scragg said GMC played more collectively as a team than they had all season.

“Their passing game was what did it for them,” he said.

“YMP were still in there at three-quartertime, but they fell away in the final five minutes of play.

“I think they put too much pressure on themselves in the final quarter, and it cost them,” Scragg said.

In the men's final YMP 2 were too strong for their clubmates in the YMP 1 team on Saturday afternoon.

They belted home eight goals to one in a one-sided final to win the men's championship, and the coveted Covid Cup.

“The top YMP team dominated right from the start,” Scragg said.

“It was pretty much one-way traffic for most of the game.”

Scragg said YMP 2 were worthy winners because they had been the form team in the men's grade, slipping up only once during the whole season.

“Credit to the YMP club for having both sides in the final.

“It shows the depth in the men's side of the club.”

Ngatapa clinched the women's bottom-four title with a convincing 4-0 victory over GMC Kowhai.

“Ngatapa got out to a 3-0 lead at halftime, but they weren't comfortable at that point,” Scragg said.

“They had a fair amount of possession but, to their credit, Kowhai kept coming at them, and it wasn't until the fourth goal that the Ngatapa comfort level increased.”

Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School edged Paikea 3-2 in the playoff for third and fourth in the women's competition.

“I felt it was a fitting end to the season for Girls' High,” Scragg said.

“The students led 2-0, then Paikea got one back, but the students scored again.

“While Paikea scored again they couldn't get another one to level it up. Girls' High held on to their lead to win.

“Girls' High deserved their victory, but credit to Paikea for being the most improved women's side this season.”

Detailed results —

Women

B Grade final: Ngatapa 4 (Jessie McNeil 2, Briar Hunter, Lulu Vermeulen) GMC Kowhai 0.

A Grade third/fourth playoff: Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School 3 (Keeley Smiler, Oaklea Bowden-Morris, Heni-Kamaia Thompson) Paikea 2 (Amber Church, Jo Cumming).

A Grade final: GMC Green 2 (Megan Allen, Shannon Williams) YMP 1 (Courtney Onekawa).

MEN

Covid Cup final: YMP 2 8 (Josh Cousins 3, Tamanay Tuhou 2, Heath Tupara, Michael Bond, Sean Gooch) YMP 1 1 (Jereme Taylor).