Saving best for last: top men's hockey teams to go head to head

GOAL: The last time Lytton Old Boys HPY Advisors and YMP A played each other in June it ended in a 4-2 victory to YMP, and this was one of the goals. They go head to head again tomorrow afternoon at 5pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

The best will very definitely be left till last in the hockey this weekend when the two top men's teams go head to head and Lytton Old Boys number one will be out to get one back over YMP 1.

The win went in-form YMP 1's way when they met earlier this season and the LOB HPY Advisors will need their top game to right the ledger in their match starting at 5pm on Saturday.

“Recent form should have YMP A going in as hot favourites,” said hockey commentator Tony Scragg.

“The Advisors will be hoping they can get all their personnel on deck for it.

“It's certainly a game that both sides look forward to and they will leave it all out on the turf.”

A close second for game of the weekend looms at 7.30pm tonight in the women's competition when YMP A and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa go head to head, and it should be a great game.

“YMP would be slight favourites after defeating Ngatapa in the first round, but the country team really made them work for it.

“If Ngatapa show up as a team determined to do well, that game could go right down to the wire.”

Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School got the hockey round this weekend off to a solid start last night on the Hain Farming Turf with a 5-nil victory over Te Aowera.

TA did well to keep the scoreline down, thanks primarily to their goalkeeper.

“Jessie Kapene led the way for the students with two goals, and credit must go to the TA goalkeeper Hinemoa Sidney who saved plenty of goals,” Scragg said.

“The score line could have been a lot higher had it not been for her goalie skills.”

The first of the matches tonight features INA Contracting GMC Green in action at 6pm against Paikea.

“The Green Machine will be determined to keep their unbeaten run going, as the three points for a win make all the difference at this end of the season.

“They should be too strong for the Ladies in Pink.”

The Saturday programme begins at 12.30pm tomorrow with a game between GMC Kowhai and Waituhi, another match that should delight the fans.

“Evenly matched teams with a point to prove sums that one up.

“Kowhai took the points last time but Waituhi will be bolstered by their first win of the season last weekend against Te Aowera.”

At 2pm Gisborne Boys' High School take on YMP B.

“That should be fairly one-sided I'm picking.

“Boys' High have had plenty of game time this week with their inter-school games in Whakatane.”

The Gisborne students beat Whakatane High School 2-nil, but lost to Trident High of Whakatane 2-1.

The 3.30pm match-up will see Waituhi take the turf against the Lytton Old Boys Masters.

“Waituhi should be the favoured team, because they are currently sitting in third on the table and deserve to be.

“But if the Masters can front a full squad they will seek to make a game of it.”