YMP teams in close match-ups

STICKS CLASH: Mary Reedy (left) of GMC Kowhai and Mihi Hannah of YMP B dispute possession in club hockey this month. On Saturday, Kowhai play Te Aowera and YMP B play GMC Gold. Picture by Paul Rickard

HOCKEY

TEAMS from the YMP club are in two games likely to be the closest in Gisborne hockey this weekend.

In a women’s game, GMC Gold play YMP B, and in the men’s competition Lytton Old Boys Masters play YMP B.

But it is the club’s top women’s team, YMP A, who open the weekend programme when they play JNL Paikea at 6pm on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve tomorrow.

“YMP A had the weekend off last weekend,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“They will be in the right head-space to finish off Round 2 for the premier women with a win.

“I think it will be a four- or five-goal scoreline to YMP, but Paikea will make them work for it.”

At 7.30pm tomorrow night, LOB NZ Fruits play THC.

“This will be a real test for the Fruits,” Scragg said.

“They have been playing well lately and last time out they pushed THC to their limits before THC won the game.

“A similar sort of effort from the Fruits will make it hard for THC again.”

Saturday competition begins at midday with GMC Kowhai playing Roseland Tavern Te Aowera.

“Kowhai will be bouncing back from their loss to GMC Gold last week, and I expect they will score well,” Scragg said.

GMC Gold and YMP B play their anticipated close encounter at 1.45pm on Saturday.

It went Gold’s way, 2-1, at the end of June, last time they met.

Gold will try for their third straight victoryOn Saturday, Gold will try for their third straight victory.

“It will be interesting to see if they can maintain their good form,” Scragg said.

“And what a good time of the season to find such good form.

“Some of their older and more experienced players have been performing well for them, and if they can reproduce that form it could be Gold’s fourth win on the trot.”

At 3.30pm, Amber Dental Gisborne Girls’ High School take on Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa.

“That should be a good little clash, too,” Scragg said.

“Girls’ High got them in the first round and the students will be looking for a solid finish to Round 2 in the premier women’s grade.

“Depending on this and other results, these two sides might fight it out in a suddden-death semifinal in a fortnight.

“A win on Saturday would be good for either side mentally,” Scragg said.

The men complete weekend play. First, the 5.15pm match pits LOB Masters against YMP B.

“That’s another feature match for the weekend for sure,” Scragg said.

“It’s got ‘classic’ written all over it!

“Both sides are playing well and they’re evenly matched.”

Gisborne Boys’ High School and YMP A face off at 7pm, and it will be a tough one for Boys’ High.

“The students struggled for numbers last weekend, and they have only just got enough players for this weekend,” Scragg said.

“They will need all hands on deck to compete with the men’s competition’s standout frontrunners.”