YMP once again setting hot pace in Gisborne men’s club hockey

YMP's James Torrie (right) and Waituhi's Piri Orotaunga, pictured in the 2023 Poverty Bay men's club hockey grand final, have continued to play pivotal roles for their clubs. Both got on the scoresheet in last weekend's games. Photo / Paul Rickard

YMP have dominated men’s club hockey for so long now that it could be described as “a dynasty”.

And only three weeks into the 2026 Poverty Bay men’s competition, there are no signs of that crumbling.

Laidlaw YMP completed a third consecutive victory on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday – 3-1 over Lytton Paikea Sports Club (LPSC) Traktion.

They had to work for it, but yet again had the wood over their decades-long rivals, although the gap has clearly closed.

YMP captain and Poverty Bay Hockey chairman Kohere Tupara said it was a game “that added to the long history of fierce and tightly contested matches between these teams”.

YMP were far from convincing in their previous week’s win over LPSC and were looking for a much-improved performance.

They got it, but Kohere paid tribute to Traktion, who he said played well and pushed them all the way.

The difference between the sides was two penalty strokes, he said.

Tamanay Tuhou, who has been part of so many YMP title runs, scored twice and James Torrie got the other.

Peter Kapene scored for Traktion.

The weekend of men’s and women’s action started with “a great match” between defending champions PGG Wrighton Ngatapa and Emerre & Hathaway LPSC.

Ngatapa won the Friday night clash 3-1 but Tupara said the Pinkies “proved once again they can match it with the top teams”.

Monica Harnett got a double for Ngatapa, who are now three from three, and Kate Pahina also got on the scoreboard.

Gabrielle Schumann was LPSC’s goalscorer.

GMC players went into their derby game with heavy hearts after the death of club stalwart Jean Royal.

It proved a one-sided clash, with GMC Green putting 10 goals past their Kowhai clubmates, five of those to Tori Wharepapa.

Royal was described on the GMC Hockey Club Facebook page as “a strong wahine, who helped pave the way for us all to follow”.

“Moe mai rā Jean, we thank you for the years you have given to this club and the opportunities you and your fellow teammates created for us all along the way.”

Tupara said experience was the winning factor for YMP in their 2-1 win over a Gisborne Girls’ High School First XI who are gaining in confidence.

Cheyenne Tarawa and Pae Wilcox-Taylor got YMP’s goals. Mya Carrington scored for the students.

YMP B savoured a sweet 4-2 men’s victory over Gisborne Resene LPSC Masters on Saturday in a predictably close tussle involving several famous Poverty Bay hockey names.

“Masters got off to a great start and it was tightly contested when it was 2-2,” Tupara said. “However, the YMP B boys pulled away in the end for their first win of the season.”

Kieran Barker and Alex Hyland got two each for YMP; Jack McFarlane and Duncan Pierce one apiece for the Masters.

Waituhi and Gisborne Boys’ High School First XI had their fans on tenterhooks in their three-goal thriller.

Waituhi scored first, GBHS replied, Waituhi went back in front early in the third quarter, and there it remained despite both teams’ best efforts.

Tegan Brown and Piri Orotaunga were Waituhi’s scorers. Corbyn Seymour equalised for the students.

“The young lads should be proud of their efforts and pushing Waituhi right till the end,” Tupara said. “It is awesome to see Waituhi showing great form.”

After three rounds, Ngatapa lead the women’s table on nine points, GMC Green and YMP are on six, LPSC and GGHS three, and GMC Kowhai zero.

Laidlaw YMP are top of the men’s table with nine points, Traktion and Waituhi are on six, GBHS and YMP B three, and Masters zero.