YMP will test LOB progress

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE development shown by the Lytton Old Boys A men’s hockey side in the past month will be tested tonight when they take on the unbeaten YMP A on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

The other major highlight this weekend comes right at the end of the round tomorrow when the unbeaten YMP A women’s outfit take on GMC Green.

“Tonight’s LOB-YMP clash from 7.30pm will tell us if the gap has closed between those two teams,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.

“YMP will go in as favourites but I think if there is any team that can push them at this stage of the season, it would be LOB A.

“In the past month, LOB have got their attacking structures in place better and they normally have a solid defensive pattern.”

The 6pm game between Gisborne Boys’ High School and Lytton Old Boys Masters should be close.

“There was only a goal in it last time we played them so the boys expect a hard-fought match tonight,” Masters player Scragg said.

Last night GMC Kowhai and Te Aowera got the round under way and Kowhai won 6-0.

“The winners dominated the match and they are now making a statement in that senior women’s competition.”

YMP B won the second game last night, 3-2, against GMC Gold.

“It was blow for blow, goal for goal until a Mel Knight strike five minutes from the end settled it in YMP’s favour,” Scragg said.

“It was a good effort by both teams and it was a thoroughly entertaining game.”

The Saturday afternoon programme starts with the 1pm game between THC and NZ Fruits Lytton Old Boys.

“THC should be too strong for LOB,” Scragg said.

“THC will know they need to stay in touch with YMP and LOB A, so they will go all out.”

At 2.45pm, JNL Paikea and Ben Holden Fencing Ngatapa go round and that result hangs in the balance.

“That should be one of the other highlights of the round,” Scragg said.

“Paikea beat us early on in the season, but the Ngatapa girls have come a long way since then,” said Scragg, who coaches Ngatapa.

“We feel confident we can give Paikea a really good game.”

The eagerly awaited YMP A match-up with GMC Green completes the round at 4.30pm tomorrow.

“It was 3-2 to YMP last time they met and both sides have struggled to put away some of the lower-ranked teams recently.

“This could be a tight finish to the round.”