“The scores were locked up at 1-1 in the second quarter, and we knew we had a game on our hands.
“But as soon as YMP got their second goal and edged out a to lead, it was hard for Lytton Old Boys to get back into it.”
YMP captain Kohere Tupara said it was a tough final.
“We knew it would be,” he said.
“With the really defensive play from Lytton Old Boys it was hard to get the ball through, but we got there in the end.
“It was a fight but we got it done.”
Tupara also reflected on YMP's consistent season.
“I feel we've had a really classy team this year, right through from our new recruits upwards.”
The YMP women and the Green Machine slugged it out to a nil-all draw at fulltime, and the shootout that followed went YMP's way.
“We saved the best game till last,” Scragg said.
“GMC dominated the first half, and YMP dominated the second.
“Both sides had their scoring opportunities in normal play but neither could get a ball in the goal.
“The shootout kept the crowd on their feet, especially after both sides had scored two each in the first two rounds of it.
Each sided missed their third attempts but after GMC missed their fourth, YMP scored to go 3-2 ahead.
YMP goalkeeper Keita Pepera then saved GMC's fifth attempt to seal victory.
“I think it was a great result for the YMP club to take both premier titles, and the icing on the cake for the YMP club across the rugby, netball and hockey codes (the club won the premier club rugby and premier-grade netball titles as well.”
YMP captain Courtney Onekawa was overjoyed with the victory.
“It was pretty intense and it took us a while to get ourselves sorted in the final, but we picked it up in the second half.”
She thanked all their supporters and paid credit to their goalkeeper Keita Pepere who held her nerve in the shootout.
“Keita's a class act,” Onekawa said.
“As nervous as we were, she just held herself together.”
Finals weekend started with a 3-1 win to Ngatapa against Paikea on Friday night.
“Ngatapa showed their dominance, scoring a goal in each of the first three quarters,” Scragg said.
“Paikea scored their goal in the fourth quarter but left their run too late.”
Then GMC Kowhai got home comfortably against Te Aowera, also on Friday night.
“GMC led 3-0 at the break, and carried on in the second half with five more goals to record a well-deserved win.”
Gisborne Boys' High School started Saturday's finals day with an 8-1 romp over the Lytton Old Boys Masters.
“It was good to see the Boys' High team pick up the B Grade men's title,” Scragg said.
“The boys dominated right from the outset, and scored some classy goals.
“Credit to Poverty Bay Hockey chairman Dave Preddey, whose well-taken goal for the Masters made sure it was not going to be a whitewash.”
Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School and YMP B followed that match, and the students won it 2-1
“It was another good game,” Scragg said.
“YMP scored first early on and Girls' High replied late in the first quarter. It was all tied up for a long period before the students took the lead.
“They continued to attack after that and dominated the remainder of the match without further scoring.”
In summary, Scragg said the finals were a wonderful way to end the season.
“The weather gods were on our side. We got great crowds and great results right across the board.
“Hockey was the winner, that's for sure!”
Hockey continues this week on the Hain Farming Turf with the Rosemary O'Brien Cup, a secondary girls' tournament with eight teams from around the North Island competing from today through till Friday.
Scoring details from the finals — Women, A Grade 3 and 4: Paikea 1 (Jo Cumming) Ngatapa 2 (Lulu Abernethy, Jaime Tombleson).
B Grade 3 and 4: GMC Kowhai 8 (Raukura Maxwell 5, Jo Sim 2, Christine Popata-Tibble) Te Aowera 0.
B Grade final: GGHS (1) 2 (Ella Whibley, Jessie Kapene) YMP B 1 (Roschell Koia).
A Grade final: YMP A 3 (penalty shootout goals to Nancy Tarawa, Kodi Campbell, Maia Rickard) GMC Green 2 (penalty shootout goals to Shannon Williams, Jade Stafford).
Men, B Grade final: GBHS (1) 8 (Jack Fletcher 3, Austin Fergus 2, Aiden Scragg, William Mathews, Patrick Brownie) LOB Masters 1 (David Preddey ).
A Grade final: YMP A 3 (Tamanay Tuhou, Heath Tupara, James Torrie) HPY Advisors Lytton Old Boys 1 (Patrick Ferry).
Intermediate schools results from August 23: Campion College 1 Gis Int Kiwa 3, Manutuke 2 Gis Int Maia 2, Gis Int Pawa 6 Ilminster A 0, Sonrise 4 Wairoa College 0, Ilminster (1) 0 TKKM Whatatutu 2. Intermediate grade winners: Manutuke 25 points. Runners-up: Gis Int Maia 22pts.
Year 5 and 6 results from August 25: Mangapapa White Sticks 1 Awapuni School 2, Waikirikiri Toa 3 Ormond Rimu 2, TKKM Nga Uri a Maui 0 Tolaga Bay Uawa Maitai 9, Patutahi Muri-Tahi 1 Te Wharau Black Sticks 0, Makaraka Green 3 Central Falcons 3, PBHA Misfits 0 Makauri Massive 3, Makauri Marvels 1 Makaraka Orange 0, Kaiti Toa 6 Wainui Whales 1, Sonrise 3 Awapuni Hitters 0.
