Sudden-death time in playoffs

CLASH OF STICKS: Chris Fox (left) and Hone Pewhairangi of THC contest possession with Matt Tietjen of NZ Fruits LOB B in Gisborne men’s hockey. Tonight, LOB B take on Gisborne Boys’ High School for the right to go straight into the senior men’s final. On Saturday, THC play YMP, and the winner will go straight through to the premier men’s final. Picture by Paul Rickard

ONE team’s hockey season ends tonight as playoffs start for the senior men’s competition at Harry Barker Reserve.

YMP B play Lytton Old Boys Masters in a sudden-death match on the LJ Hooker Turf at 7.30pm.

The losers will bow out of the senior men’s competition in fourth place.

YMP defeated the Masters 3-0 last weekend so they would be favourites.

They have a sharper attack than the Masters have been able to muster this season.

In the other game tonight, at 6pm, NZ Fruits LOB B take on Gisborne Boys’ High School for the right to go straight into the senior men’s final.

The students have had a big week in the Super 8 competition and face a tall task to get themselves up for the game.

LOB B had last weekend off so will be fresh, and should be too strong.

The premier women have one round to go before the playoffs. In the first of these games, at 6pm tomorrow night, Paikea play Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa.

Paikea have beaten Ngatapa twice this season and should win tomorrow night.

But Ngatapa have shown resilient defence at times and if they can defend well and snap up a chance or two at the other end they could be in with a chance.

The other game tomorrow night, at 7.30pm, should be a cracker and a crowd-puller. YMP A and GMC Green meet again, having each won a game against the other this season.

YMP have more to prove ahead of the premier playoffs, so expect them to start strongly, but the Green Machine have found good form in the past month.

The highlight of Saturday’s programme will be the return bout between THC and YMP A in the men’s competition at 2.45pm. The winners go straight through to the premier men’s final.

This season, YMP beat THC 4-2 and then last weekend THC turned the tables with a 3-2 win.

That game is too tough to call. Clean possession and accurate finishing will be the decisive.

LOB A have the bye this weekend. Next week they play the losers of the THC-YMP match.

This is playoffs weekend for the senior women and, as with the senior men’s competition, it will be the last game of the season for one team.

In the first of the senior women’s playoff games on Saturday, GMC Kowhai play YMP B at 1pm. The winners go through to the senior final.

That will be a close game.

A sudden-death match between Gisborne Girls’ High School and GMC Gold is the final fixture of the weekend, at 4.30pm on Saturday.

The season ends for the losers.

Girls’ High would be favoured. Their win against Kowhai last weekend must have given them a huge morale boost.