Ngatapa and GMC Green win big

Giving chase: Gisborne Girls' High School's Madison Savage (left) chases GMC Kowhai's Monica Hall in Poverty Bay women's hockey on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve at the weekend. Girls' High won this match 6-0. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

BIG wins to Ngatapa and GMC Green in the women’s competition and a good fighting effort from Gisborne Boys’ High School highlighted the series of senior hockey games from the weekend.

Gisborne Girls’ High School also had a comfortable win in a weekend where goals were plentiful.

The Green Machine overpowered JNL Paikea 11-0 and hockey commentator Tony Scragg said the commanding scoreline was a surprise against a Paikea side that had been in good form lately.

“GMC Green took a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, with the four goals scored in four minutes.

“They just kept right on adding to the score until the final quarter, when Paikea were able to keep them scoreless with some excellent defending.

“But by the start of the final period it was all over red rover.”

Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa produced a powerful display against GMC Gold, spearheaded by a five-goal haul to Emily Willock in the 11-0 result.

“Ngatapa played well throughout the match and it was good to see Emily back in fine form,” Scragg said.

Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School were at their best in their 6-0 victory over GMC Kowhai.

“That score indicates the difference between the top five sides in the women’s competition and the bottom four,” Scragg said.

“Girls’ High were outstanding and coach Henry Mulligan would have had a smile on his dial.”

Gisborne Boys’ High School fought hard against Lytton Old Boys A, and were rewarded with two goals in the 6-2 victory to LOB A.

“It was good to see the students scoring against one of the favoured teams in the men’s competition,” Scragg said.

“The result lifted LOB A to third on the men’s table.

“They thoroughly deserved their win.”

The YMP A women’s team made no race of their outing against their B team, winning 12-1.

“Despite that healthy scoreline, YMP A struggled a bit at times,” Scragg said.

“I suspect they put it all out there in their good win against GMC Green the previous weekend.”

The LOB Masters fared a lot worse than they had hoped in their 6-0 loss to YMP B.

“We had hoped to do better,” said Scragg, who plays for the Masters.

“YMP controlled the match right through. They played really well.

“As for discipline, there were more cards than you would find at a birthday party — three for them and one for us.”

Detailed results — Men: LOB A 6 (Alex Mayhead 3, Derek Peach 2, Derek Watson) Gisborne Boys’ High School 2 (Brett Hockey, Kingi Ormond); YMP B 6 (Jack Sanders 3, Andrew Carter 2, Michael Bond) LOB Masters 0; THC 0 YMP A 3 (YMP A won by default).

Women: Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School 6 (Ngahuia Wilson 2, Caitlin Candy, Jessie Kapene, Oaklea Bowden-Morris, Tiari-Awhina Pepere) GMC Kowhai 0; YMP A 12 (Caitlyn Richards 4, Courtney Onekawa 3, Maia Rickard 2, Nancy Tarawa 2, Toni Halley) YMP B 1 (Mel Knight). GMC Green 11 (Maika Akroyd 2, Anita Howard 2, Jade Stafford 2, Trish Hina 2, Amy England, Shannon Williams, Kelsey Teneti) JNL Paikea 0. Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa 11 (Emily Willock 5, Briar Hunter 3, Katie Herries 2, Lucinda Candy) GMC Gold 0.