Pacesetting pair not meeting yet

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Hockey fans will have to wait longer to see the two in-form senior men’s teams go head to head, after THC had to default their match against YMP A, scheduled for tonight.

The eagerly awaited match-up was to start the games this weekend and had “classic” written all over it as a replay of last year’s grand final.

“THC have had to default the game because some of their players will be at a tangi,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

YMP A will take three points.

The game that was to be the second one played tonight now starts at the earlier time of 6.30pm. It, too, promises some excitement, as Gisborne Boys’ High School take on Lytton Old Boys A.

“Effectively, whoever wins tonight will finish third in the first round of the senior men’s competition,” Scragg said.

“Realistically, you would have to favour LOB A, but Boys’ High have been playing some good hockey. It could be an upset.”

Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School and GMC Kowhai start the Saturday programme at 12 midday tomorrow.

“Girls’ High would be favoured there,” Scragg said.

“They have shown a lot of tenacity in their games, and they have the scoring power up front to win it.

“Kowhai will need to play well for the full 70 minutes to stand a chance against them.”

At 1.45pm, YMP A play their B team in the second women’s match of the day.

“I would expect the top YMP side to win comfortably,” Scragg said.

“I would not be surprised to see the A team fullbacks look to get a bit of a run up front tomorrow, to try to grab some goalscoring glory.”

JNL Paikea and GMC Green square off at 3.30pm in a game that should bring out the best in both teams.

“That is the women’s match of the weekend for me,” Scragg said.

“The Green Machine come off that loss to YMP A last weekend and back-to-back losses are rare for them.

“They should be too strong across the turf for Paikea, but I would expect to see Paikea take it to them, and take it right down to the wire.”

At 5.15pm, Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa play GMC Gold and the Ngatapa outfit should be too strong.

“I would like to see better structure from the girls tomorrow, and better finishing,” said Scragg, who co-coaches Ngatapa.

“They are developing nicely. Tomorrow is a good chance for the team to gel a bit more and ensure they keep themselves in the top three in the women’s competition.”

The men get back on the turf with LOB Masters playing YMP B at 7pm tomorrow night to conclude the series of games this weekend.

“This would be a game that the Masters would target as a potential win,” Scragg said.

“To do that, they will need to put away their opportunities and work hard on defence.”

He predicts a close match.

“0ne team will come away with the silver spoon and the other with the wooden spoon in the first round of the competition,” he said.

“So it’s a big game for both teams, bigger than the Royal Wedding that’s for sure!”