It’s a YMP-LOB grand final in Poverty Bay men’s club hockey

LOB Traktion's Jack Willock scored twice against Gisborne Boys' High School First XI as LOB won 4-2 and sealed a place in the Poverty Bay men's club hockey Premier final against reigning champions YMP. Photo / Mai Gooch

Traditional rivals LOB Traktion and YMP will meet in the Poverty Bay men’s club hockey premier final after a thrilling do-or-die showdown on Saturday afternoon.

Lytton Paikea Sports Club LOB Traktion defeated Gisborne Boys’ High School First XI 4-2 on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

It highlighted a weekend that mixed big scores with tight finishes to entertain the hardy spectators who turned up on the coldest day of the year.

Traktion, after drawing with YMP last Thursday night, went into the Saturday game having to beat the students to book a place in the final.

Boys’ High needed at least a draw to stay in the hunt. They have a game in hand (against Waituhi) this weekend, while it was the last round-robin match for LOB, who started Saturday’s clash one point ahead of the students on the table.

“The Traktion-Gisborne Boys’ High School match was a fantastic game between two teams that had everything to play for,” Poverty Bay Hockey chairman Kohere Tupara said.

“Traktion dominated the first half but the Boys’ High goalkeeper [Francois Louw] kept his side in the game with some tremendous saves.

“Traktion’s execution proved the difference and they will return to the Premier men’s final for the first time since 2022.”

Former Boys’ High player Jack Willock scored two goals and Anthony Boyder and Josh Lardelli the others for Traktion.

Ollie Egan scored both goals for the students, who replaced Louw with an outfield player late in the game in a bid to close the deficit.

The clash between Waituhi and LPSC Resene Masters was also an end-to-end nailbiter - Waituhi winning 4-3.

“It went right down to the wire as the Masters fought to the final whistle,” Tupara said.

Henry Mohi (Waituhi) and Derek Peach (Masters) got doubles.

In women’s games, consistent pressure and clinical finishing summed up PGG Wrightson Ngatapa’s 7-0 whitewash of GMC Kowhai.

“Ngatapa were just too sharp for them,” Tupara said.

Leigh Twigley and Mackenzie Cassie scored hat-tricks.

The GMC Green juggernaut rolled on with an 11-0 win over Gisborne Girls’ High First XI.

“It took GMC Green some time to get going against the students, but once they did, they took control,” Tupara said.

“The Green Machine once again proved why they are the team to beat in women’s hockey in 2025.”

Three players racked up hat-tricks – Jess Candy, Caroline Maclaurin and Heni-Kamaia Thompson.

It will be a battle of the “Greens” when GMC and Ngatapa meet in the Premier women’s final.

“We have two more weeks left of senior hockey,” PB Hockey operations manager Louise Teneti said.

“Finals will be played out on August 23, which will be 1 versus 2 and 3 versus 4 for final placings.”

SCOREBOARD

Women: GMC Green 11 (Jess Candy 3, Caroline Maclaurin 3, Heni-Kamaia Thompson 3, Maia Brown, Bree Thompson) Gisborne Girls’ High School First XI 0.

PGG Wrightson Ngatapa 7 (Leigh Twigley 3, Mackenzie Cassie 3, Briar Robb) GMC Kowhai 0.

Men: Waituhi 4 (Henry Mohi 2, Kayden Brown, MatT Pepere) LPSC Resene Masters 3 (Derek Peach 2, Wade Manson).

LPSC Traktion 4 (Jack Willock 2, Anthony Boyder, Josh Lardelli) Gisborne Boys’ High First XI (Ollie Egan 2).