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HOCKEY
THE bottom four teams in the women’s hockey competition begin the weekend hockey round tomorrow night and both games should be more evenly matched now the division has been split.
GMC Kowhai, GMC Gold, Roseland Tavern Te Aowera and YMP B will play in the bottom four.
Kowhai and Gold get first use of the turf at 6pm tomorrow.
“Kowhai top qualified in the bottom four and they should produce their first win of the second round,” said hockey commentator Tony Scragg.
“Gold have had two wins, against TA and YMP B, but they have yet to defeat Kowhai this season.”
It was 4-0 to Kowhai last time they played.
Roseland Tavern Te Aowera and YMP B follow them at 7.30pm.
“This is a game TA can win if they can muster a full team,” Scragg said.
The top five in the women’s competition comprise YMP A, GMC Green, Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School, JNL Paikea and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa.
Four of those teams meet up on Saturday afternoon.
The 5.15pm clash between GMC Green and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa would potentially be the best game.
“Ngatapa pushed them in their first round game, and Ngatapa have been on the improve since then.
“But the Green Machine are still, in my view, the team to beat in the women’s top five, and Ngatapa will have to dig deep,” Scragg said.
At 7pm, YMP A and Amber Dental GGHS complete the weekend programme. “If there was ever going to be an upset in the women’s competition this season, this game could be it.
“Girls’ High have grown a fair bit in the past month of hockey, and their performance last weekend against GMC Green was an indication of that.”
The match ended 4-2 to GMC Green.
The men’s teams have one more game in this round this weekend and then play another full round after that.
YMP A and Gisborne Boys’ High School begin the Saturday programme at noon.
“The students have had a spate of injuries through their team, so this is going to be a tough one for them,” Scragg said. “I would expect YMP A to win well and keep their unblemished record.”
THC will be a handful for LOB NZ Fruits at 1.45pm.
“It will be back to reality for the Fruits after their first win last weekend.”
The best of the men’s matches pits YMP B against the LOB Masters at 3.30pm.
“The Masters have outmuscled YMP B on previous occasions,” Scragg said. “I can see that happening again.”