Lytton Old Boys, Waituhi the winners of premier, senior hockey champs

Premier men’s champions: Lytton Old Boys defeated YMP A in the final of the premier-grade men’s hockey competition on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday. The winners are, back (from left): Matt King (coach), Jayden McKay, Oliver Shivnan, Ethan Rogers, Cole Manson, Peter Kapene, Patrick Ferry (captain), Ben Blakeman and David Levy. Front: Aaron Whitehead, Liam Melville, Wade Manson, Matt Skuse, David Melville, Jed Skuse and Gareth Yaxley. Pictures by Liam Clayton

Lytton Old Boys and Waituhi hoisted the spoils on Saturday as they ran out winners of the premier and senior men’s hockey championships.

LOB NZ Fruits and YMP had to be separated by a shootout in the premier final, but Waituhi beat LOB Masters 7-0 to win the senior (B Grade) title.

“It was 1-0 to the Fruits at halftime, they scored again in the third quarter and then YMP got one on the board,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“YMP scored the equaliser about halfway through the final period, and it was tied up 2-2 at fulltime.”

Fruits goalkeeper Cole Manson, 18, did a great job defending his goal in the shootout.

He denied the YMP shooters, and LOB scored twice to win the shootout 2-0.

“Cole hunted down the YMP shooters, stayed on his feet and was patient,” Scragg said.

“The YMP goalkeeper Dylan Dyer, who is only 17, did well too.

“It showed the future of men’s goalkeeping is in good hands.”

Scragg said the Fruits were ecstatic.

“It’s so good to have Lytton Old Boys back in the men’s hockey finals fold again after a few years away.”

YMP skipper Kohere Tupara paid tribute to the Fruits for winning the competition. But he added that you can only go down when you’re at the top.

Fruits skipper Patrick Ferry said it was an even and hard-fought match.

For the Fruits to pull ahead, only to have YMP claw their way back to even the score and force the shootout was nerve-racking.

“We’ve worked hard this year as a team so we’re proud that we came away with the win,” Ferry said.

“This year’s victory is special for our team for a few reasons.

“Firstly, the young talent in our team has been incredible. These players’ commitment to train and develop has been outstanding and they have really become stalwarts in our line-up.

“Secondly, our coach Matt King, who has dedicated his time to help us develop as a team . . . he is probably the biggest reason we have had such a successful season. He has had victories with LOB as a player and captain, and now as a coach.

“Lastly, this year we had three father-and-son duos in our team and I know for them this win is extra special.”

• Waituhi were in command of their final against the Masters by halftime, ahead 3-0.

“Waituhi took a while to settle into the game, but once they did in the second quarter their momentum lifted and the four further goals they scored in the second half sealed an emphatic victory,” Scragg said.

“It was fitting their final goal was scored by one of the oldest men on the turf, Danny Tuhou.

“It was a special moment and the Waituhi fans recognised it with a standing ovation.”

Scragg said the Masters had their moments but could not convert their scoring chances.

“It has been great to have Waituhi back on the turf again in both the women’s and now the men’s competitions,” he said.

“I know they are very happy to have taken home two pieces of silverware this season — the Covid Cup and now the senior championship trophy.”