YMP planning fruitless day for LOB, battle of unbeaten women’s teams

YOUTH V EXPERIENCE: Gisborne Boys’ High’s Lachie Falloon and YMP 2’s Peter Tupara contest possession in a Poverty Bay men’s club hockey game on the Property Brokers Turf. Tupara has been around the hockey traps for a fair few years now but is still going strong. His team face Lytton Old Boys Fruits in what is predicted to be one of the feature games of the weekend. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

CLASHES between unbeaten YMP women and Gisborne Girls High and Lytton Old Boys Fruits and YMP 2 men will be feature games in Poverty Bay senior hockey this weekend.

Lytton Old Boys Masters and Gisborne Boys’ High School get the ball rolling at the Property Brokers Turf at 6.30pm tonight.

“Boys High are searching for their first win this season and each week they get closer to a victory,” said hockey commentator Tony Scragg..

“The Masters might have to be on song to take the points tonight.

“Both sides have shown good form in the second half of their games so the second period will be interesting.”

The Saturday programme starts at

12 midday with the Fruits up against YMP 2, and it promises to be a cracking game.

“The Fruits showed last week with two early goals that they have what it takes. They just to improve on their second-half performance,” said Scragg.

“YMP 2 will not lie down so the Fruits will need to keep the pressure on,” Scragg said.

They will be followed at 1.30pm by a women’s competition game between Ngatapa and Paikea.

“This could well sort out the top four placings at the end of the round,” said Scragg.

“Paikea go in as slight favourites based on their recent results while Ngatapa are looking for their first win of the competition.”

Girls’ High School face a litmus test at 3pm against YMP in a battle between unbeaten sides .

“This is the match of the round for me,” Scragg said. “It is a great test for Girls’ High, who have played some great hockey in the past month. But when you’re up against the competition’s best, you’ve got to bring out your best.

“It could be a close match. It’s got that feel about it that only a single goal could separate these sides.”

The 4.30pm match between GMC Green and GMC Gold has a “Green Machine” victory written all over it.

Scragg said Green will be hungry for victory after a loss and a draw in the past two weeks. “They need the points.”

GMC Kowhai and Waituhi end the day’s play at 6pm.

“That should be a good clash to finish the weekend,” said Scragg.

“Waituhi will still be on cloud nine after their first win last weekend but Kowhai showed guts and determination in their narrow loss to Paikea last weekend.”