YMP shooting for both men’s and women’s A Grade hockey titles

YMP men's and women's teams are in the finals respectively this weekend with the men playing LOB's at 2.30pm and the defending champions YMP A women playing GMC Green at 4.15pm. Above, YMP's Tamanay Tuhou moves the ball as Lytton Old Boys' Elliot St John looks on. Picture by Paul Rickard

YMP will shoot for the double this weekend when they look to snare both men's and women's A Grade hockey titles.

The form book indicates they could do it.

The in-form YMP A men's side meet HPY Advisors Lytton Old Boys in the first of the major deciders on the Hain Farming Turf at Harry Barker Reserve at 2.30pm tomorrow.

“That's the final we all expected — the two in-form men's teams all season,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“YMP have certainly earned the favourites' tag, given they have beaten LOB on every occasion.

“Their last win against them was the closest of the three results, so perhaps that's an indication that Lytton Old Boys can make a real final of it.

“But I think YMP are such a well-balanced side they will be hard to stop.”

Patrick Ferry from LOB said his team were excited about the game.

“The matches we've played in the lead-up to this have been really competitive and well fought and we're looking to continue this on Saturday.

“We've taken the opportunity to work on those things that were weaknesses last time we played YMP and hopefully that will help secure a win this weekend.”

Kohere Tupara from YMP A says they expect a close, hard-fought match . . . “as they've been all year.

“There've been many close finals between the clubs over the years and we expect no different,” he said.

“We're looking forward to going into battle again.”

The women's final follows at 4.15pm and that promises to be a battle royal, too.

Defending women's champions YMP A and INA Contracting GMC Green have shared the honours in their games this season.

“This will be a very close tussle, and the way it's scheduled as the last final, we could well see the best saved till last,” Scragg said.

“I think it will come down to the final quarter, and the Green Machine will be conscious not to let YMP score early in the game.

“It's hard to peg back goals against a side with as much quality as YMP.

“However, the Green Machine led the women's competition for much of the season and will want to finish with a flourish.”

The finals weekend begins tonight with Paikea and Ngatapa playing off for third and fourth in the women's competition from 6pm.

“That should be close; last time out it was a 3-3 draw,” Scragg said.

“Paikea can go the full distance and Ngatapa will need to produce their best hockey to win it.”

At 7.30pm tonight, GMC Kowhai and Te Aowera go head to head to settle the women's B Grade third and fourth spots.

“Kowhai will go in as hot favourites after narrowly losing out on a finals spot in a shootout,” Scragg said.

“But TA know how to win games at the right end of the season.

“Expect the unexpected.”

The big finals day begins at 11am tomorrow when Gisborne Boys' High School and LOB Masters meet to decide first and second in the men's B Grade.

“Boys' High will be confident after their last outing against the Masters a fortnight ago, when they won by 12-1,” Scragg said.

“But hopefully LOB Masters will have a full complement of players and that should make for a more competitive game.

“Good luck to the handful of boys who will be playing their last game for the school side at home.”

At 12.45pm, Amber Dental Gisborne Girls' High School and YMP B play for first and second in the women's B Grade.

“That will be a sit-on-the-fence type of close tussle,” Scragg said.

“It could go either way.

“Girls' High go in as slight favourites, but YMP B have gutsed it out in some hard-fought games in recent weeks. They will be battle-hardened.”

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