Waituhi celebrate second win on trot

HARD TO DISPOSSESS: Wade Manson, of Lytton Old Boys NZ Fruits, shields the ball from Heath Tupara, of YMP (2), in men’s hockey on Saturday. YMP won the game 6-4. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

WAITUHI celebrated for the second weekend in a row on Saturday with their second consecutive victory in their return season to the Poverty Bay women’s hockey competition.

They did so in one of several thrilling matches across the weekend round.

Waituhi defeated GMC Kowhai 6-4.

“That’s another great result for Waituhi and it was good to see such a high-scoring match,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“They have certainly labelled themselves now as the dark-horse team in the women’s competition.”

Paikea ground out a hard-fought 2-0 win against Ngatapa.

“Ngatapa dominated the first half but were held scoreless, then Paikea got on top in the second half and scored the goals that counted,” Scragg said.

YMP continued on their unbeaten way with a 4-0 win against Gisborne Girls’ High School.

“It was another solid outing for YMP and they look like the side that will be hardest to beat for the rest of the season in the women’s grade,” Scragg said.

“Girls’ High got a good reality check against a team of that calibre.”

The Green Machine scored by the dozen in their 12-0 trouncing of GMC Gold.

“GMC Green did not hold back against their clubmates on their comeback performance after a loss and a draw in recent games, that’s for sure,” Scragg said.

“Hopefully the win gets the defending champions back on track in some way.

“They have been off the boil in the past few weeks.

“There’s nothing like putting the ball in the goal to regain confidence.”

The men’s matches produced something special, too.

Lytton Old Boys Masters held on for a 4-3 victory over Gisborne Boys’ High School.

“The Masters produced a surprising result there,” Scragg said.

“Boys’ High, like they have done all season, fought back in the second half. That’s something for them to work on in future games.

“The Masters were pretty chuffed with that result. Well done to them.”

YMP (2) and LOB NZ Fruits turned on a really entertaining game that ended 6-4 in YMP’s favour.

“YMP keep themselves undefeated with that result,” Scragg said.

“But the Fruits showed they could muscle up when required, and it augurs well for the rest of their season.”

Paikea 2 (Taimania Clark, Jessie Duncan) Ngatapa 0; YMP 4 (Courtney Onekawa 2, Maia Rickard, Nancy-Rae Tarawa) Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School 0; GMC Green 12 (Amy England 4, Megan Allen 2, Lee-Ana Fleming 2, Caroline Maclaurin 2, Jade Stafford, Simone Grogan) GMC Gold 0; Waituhi 6 (Kayla Hornblow 3, Marlene Nikora, Kim Tupara, Libby Te Rauna) GMC Kowhai 4 (Charlie Brown 3, Emilie Skuse).

LOB Masters 4 (David Preddey 3, Liam Melville) Gisborne Boys’ High School 3 (Eric Taylor, Harry Allan, Oscar Ruston); YMP (2) 6 (Michael Bond 3, Josh Cousins 3) LOB NZ Fruits 4 (Wade Manson 2, Cole Manson, Matthew Pepere).