LOB favourites but smarting Waituhi out to bounce back

Waituhi’s Henry Mohi reaches after the ball under the control of Lytton Old Boys Traktion’s Oliver Shivnan . The sides meet in a Prem 1 men’s club hockey game at 6pm tonight at Harry Barker Reserve.Picture by Paul Rickard

Lytton Old Boys Traktion and Waituhi will contest what is likely to be the match of the round in Poverty Bay club hockey.

Prem 1 men’s competition leaders LOB are favoured to win the clash which starts at 6pm on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve tonight.

“Traktion are vying to finish top of the Prem 1 men’s table ahead of the playoffs,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“I think they are in the right place to do that. They will go hard out tonight to take the maximum points.

“Waituhi, on the other hand, have nothing to lose and may be on the rebound after last weekend’s heavy loss (8-0) to YMP A,” he said.

The week’s action started last night with a Prem 2 match between Gisborne Boys’ High School 1st XI and Lytton Old Boys Resene Masters.

It was expected the students would have too much firepower for the Masters. The result was not available when The Herald went to print last night.

Tomorrow’s programme is an all-female affair starting with PGG Wrightson Ngatapa versus GMC Kowhai at 12.30pm.

“That’s a top-of-the-table clash in the women’s Prem 2 division,” Scragg said.

“The winners would have an easier road into the semifinals, so it’s a big game for both teams.

“Kowhai have good momentum and I think they will keep that momentum going.”

Te Aowera play YMP B in another Prem 2 game at 2pm.

“YMP B will look to bounce back into some late season form tomorrow afternoon after a bit of slump. A win would see them leapfrog TA on the points table from their fourth position.

“However, it’s usually about this time of the year we see Te Aowera show us their full wares.”

Prem 1 sides GMC Green and Gisborne Girls’ High 1st XI take their turn at 3.30pm.

“The Green Machine all the way there,” Scragg said.

“They have dominated the women’s competition (alongside YMP A) to date, and while the students will try hard, GMC should be too potent on attack and too solid in defence.”

Paikea and defending champions YMP A finish the weekend off from 5pm.

“YMP A go in as red-hot favourites and will be looking for maximum goals scored to bolster their goal differential.”

GMC Green and YMP A are on the same points — 10 — at the top of the table but GMC’s differential is significantly superior, 14 to YMP’s seven.