Teams have points to prove

Closing in: Gisborne Boys’ High School’s Eric Taylor (left) and Brett Hockey close in on THC’s Tamanay Tuhou. Boys’ High play Lytton Old Boys B tonight, while THC have the bye this weekend.Picture by Liam Clayton

HOCKEY

GISBORNE Boys’ High School and Lytton Old Boys B look set to provide a lively start to the weekend’s senior hockey when they meet on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve tonight.

And tomorrow the JNL Paikea-YMP B clash could be the game of the round.

Tonight’s 7.30pm match between Boys’ High and LOB B should be a good test for both teams as the second round of the men’s competition starts.

“They are fairly evenly matched as the first-round scoreline of 2-1 to Boys’ High illustrates,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“LOB will be looking for a bit of redemption. I think this one won’t be decided until the final quarter.”

Weekend play starts at 6pm tonight when the YMP A men play their B team. The most likely result is something similar to the 15-2 trouncing the A team handed out in the last game between these teams.

“I think YMP A will continue to ram home the point that they are serious contenders for the men’s title, and that means scoring as often as possible, even against their clubmates,” Scragg said.

“YMP B will do brilliantly to keep the score to single figures.”

The senior women start tomorrow’s programme at midday, with GMC Kowhai up against GMC Green.

“You would have to back the Green Machine there,” Scragg said.

“A win would put them in outright second place and I’m sure that will be the message their coach, Louise Teneti, spells out to them before the match.

“They had that speed bump of the 4-1 loss to YMP A, but overall I think they are tracking pretty well.

“Kowhai, on the other hand, look more comfortable against the bottom-four teams.”

At 1.45pm, Te Aowera will face the rampant YMP A.

“You have to feel for TA even before this match starts,” Scragg said.

“It will be tough for them because the YMP women are in such sparkling form.”

The men get back out there at 3.30pm tomorrow when the LOB Masters go up against their A team.

“LOB A have been finding form lately and I would expect that to continue against us tomorrow,” said Scragg, who plays for the Masters.

“We held them in the second half last time we played them a fortnight ago.

“Our challenge tomorrow is to do that for both halves and that will be a big ask.”

At 5.15pm JNL Paikea meet YMP B.

“I think Paikea, after that heavy defeat to GMC Green last weekend, should bounce back tomorrow against YMP B.

“Teams tend to gain a lot out of a loss, and I expect to see those gains reflected on the turf tomorrow against the YMP second team.”

The final match of the weekend, at 7pm tomorrow night, has GMC Gold in action against Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School.

“Girls’ High look every bit a top-five team in the women’s division,” Scragg said.

“It will be good to see them pick up back-to-back wins and they are certainly capable of that. Their season will only get harder as the second round for the women looms in a fortnight.”