Red-hot round awaits

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

A RED-HOT fourth round of hockey competition opens tonight on the LJ Hooker Turf with some tantalising match-ups ahead of the game of the round — Lytton Old Boys A against YMP A — at 4.30pm on Saturday.

“YMP go in as slight favourites but LOB A come off a solid victory last Saturday that will have helped them,” commentator Tony Scragg said.

“Whether it has helped them enough to produce an upset over a YMP men’s side that looks so dangerous remains to be seen.”

The round starts tonight at 6pm when Ben Holden Ngatapa meet Te Aowera.

“I think after last week’s performance, the Ngatapa girls would go in as favourites,” Scragg said.

“They are developing a real strike force up front and TA are still finding their feet in the competition.”

In the second game tonight, at 7.30pm, GMC Gold play YMP A.

“I think the Gold side will struggle. YMP A are playing great hockey,” Scragg said.

The Friday night matches pit Gisborne Girls’ High School against YMP B at 6pm.

“That could be one of the closest games of the round,” Scragg said.

“Girls’ High are searching for form and this game gives them the opportunity to grab some momentum.”

At 7.30pm tomorrow, Paikea play GMC Kowhai.

“Kowhai, coming off two consecutive wins, will be difficult to handle. I think they are becoming the dark horses of the women’s competition.”

On Saturday at 1pm Gisborne Boys’ High School play YMP B in a match that should be more to the students’ liking after some tough outings recently.

“It should be a good close game,” Scragg said.

“It’s a chance for the students to settle in their combinations, particularly in defence, without so much pressure.”

The 2.45pm match is between LOB Masters and THC.

“It will be another tough day at the office for the Masters,” Scragg said.

“THC looked so solid last weekend. They were clinical in most aspects of their play.

“You can expect 11 defenders out there for the Masters.”