Ngatapa defence a credit

UNDER PRESSURE: Ngatapa’s Katie Herries gets her pass away, under pressure from YMP’s Awhina Rickard, in women’s hockey on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday. YMP A won the match 4-0. Picture by Paul Rickard

THE women of Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa walked off the LJ Hooker Turf with their heads held high after they held high-flying YMP A to just four goals at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday.

“We aimed at holding YMP A to single figures and to lose 4-0 felt like a victory,” Ngatapa coach Tony Scragg said.

“It was by far the girls’ best defensive effort so far this season and they can be proud of themselves.”

It was 3-0 to YMP at halftime.

“To concede only one goal in the second half was remarkable,” Scragg said.

“It was the best half of hockey I have seen those girls play.

“YMP will be a very tough proposition for anyone to beat when it comes to the women’s Division 1 championship.”

GMC Green beat JNL Paikea 10-3.

“The score at halftime was 3-2 to GMC, but the rev-up that I suspect happened at halftime worked wonders and they scored five goals in the third quarter,” Scragg said.

Paikea manager and player Jo Cumming said “a dodgy third quarter” cost them.

“But it was definitely a better effort than last time we played them,” she said.

Lytton Old Boys A gave their second team, NZ Fruits LOB B, a torrid time and racked up one of the highest scores of the season — 20-0.

“They were halfway there at half time (10-0) but the Fruits had only eight players, so it was always going to be tough,” Scragg said.

GMC Kowhai got the now-split women’s division going with a 3-0 win against GMC Gold in their Division 2 match on Thursday night.

“Kowhai got out of the blocks strongly to dominate the first half,” Scragg said.

“Gold had their chances in the second half but could not put them away.

“It was a good win to Kowhai and gave a glimpse of the sort of form they showed last season.”

YMP A and THC scored well in the men’s games on Friday night but the kudos should go to the defensive play of the opposing teams.

Scragg said that while Gisborne Boys’ High School lost 8-1 to YMP A, they should be pleased with themselves to hold the top men’s team to single figures.

“It was a fine achievement, and they did well to score a goal.”

YMP B held the hard-hitting THC to a 6-2 scoreline in the other match on Friday night.

“They made THC work for that victory, and credit to them for their hard work, especially on defence. And to score a couple of goals against such a good team was well done.”

Scoring details — Men: THC 6 (Hoera Mohi 3, Mason O’Dwyer, Tamanay Tuhou, Piri Orotaunga) YMP B 2 (Te Rau Brown 2).

YMP A 8 (Kohere Tupara 3, Heath Tupara 2, Marshall Norris, Jarrod Carter, Jereme Taylor) Gisborne Boys’ High School 1 (Kingi Ormond).

Lytton Old Boys 20 (Jayden McKay 5, Shea Hooper 4, Neal Ebbett 3, Derek Peach 2, Jack Kernohan 2, Alex Mayhead 2, Matt Skuse 2) LOB NZ Fruits 0.

Women: GMC Kowhai 3 (Amy McNay, Ella Torrie, Shelley Waide) GMC Gold 0.

GMC Green 10 (Jade Stafford 3, Kelsey Teneti 2, Shannon Williams 2, Anita Howard, Laura Main, Alexandria Taare) JNL Paikea 3 (Jo Cumming 2, Kate Muir).

YMP A 4 (Nancy-Rae Tarawa, Maia Rickard, Roschelle Koia, Moelani Tureia-Siataga) Ngatapa 0.