Weekend of action opens with ‘crackers’

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HOCKEY

TWO cracking games tonight usher in the weekend’s action in Poverty Bay hockey and both senior women’s matches are too close to call.

At 6pm, JNL Paikea meet GMC Kowhai and hockey commentator Tony Scragg has sat firmly on the fence.

“I cannot pick that either way,” he said.

“Both teams have been playing some good hockey.

“The form guide would say Paikea would have a slight edge, but we will see.”

Scraggy was even more comfortable fence-sitting when it came to the 7.30pm match-up between YMP A and GMC Green, undoubtedly the game of the weekend.

“This could also be the game of the round so far,” he said.

'It will be a humdinger'“It will be a humdinger.

“Both teams have played their cards close to the chest so far this season, but tonight they will have to show-and-tell if they want to win it.

“It will be a cracking game.”

The Saturday programme starts with the game between Lytton Old Boys Masters and their A team at 12pm.

“Having the bye last week might help the Masters, and they will need all the help they can get,” Scragg said.

“I would expect LOB A to win, and win well.”

At 1.45pm, LOB B play Gisborne Boys’ High School, and the students will want to shake off last weekend’s heavy loss to YMP A.

“That could be quite a close match,” Scragg said.

“Boys’ High just have to prove to themselves they can compete for the full match.

“They have put together some good quarters of play but slipped off the pace, and it has cost them. Tomorrow they will need to focus for the full 70 minutes if they want to win.”

The 3.30pm game between YMP A and their B team will no doubt turn into a bit of a training match, and fair enough.

“I think the A team have been tracking along well and they might mix up a few combinations in that game, especially knowing they have THC to come soon.”

The women complete Saturday’s games, and the match between Te Aowera and GMC Gold at 5.15pm could be closer than some people think.

“Te Aowera showed grit in their loss to YMP B last weekend and showed they are an improving tream,” Scragg said.

'Gold should win it, but TA will make them work'“Gold should win it, but TA will make them work.”

The final match of the weekend, at 7pm, between Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa and Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School, has the potential to be the second-best game of the weekend.

“I have been impressed with the way Girls’ High have been playing,” Scragg said.

“They played well in a 4-3 loss to YMP last weekend.

“Ngatapa might need to step it up a notch to compete with them.

“This will be a fitting game to end the weekend series of games.”