Hockey: Bay girls one win away from treble

Hawke's Bay striker Olivia Shannon gets on the outside of Queensland defender Siubhan Slater during last night's win. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay's under-18 girls invitation hockey team areone win away from completing three consecutive wins against Aussie opponents in as many days.

The Gary Heal-coached team followed Wednesday night's 12-0 drubbing against New South Wales with a 2-1 victory against their Queensland counterparts at Napier's Park Island last night. While Heal's team has the ammunition to complete the treble he refused to get too carried away after last night's game on the 10th anniversary of the annual fixture.

"Hopefully we can do it tomorrow. But it's a different day and that can mean a different game. While we have seen what they can do they have seen what we can do ... we have all got to be a bit smarter tomorrow," he said referring to today's 5pm clash at the same venue.

Heal's troops were always in front against the Aussies. Striker Bella Greig scored the first goal before Queensland equalised to tie the score at 1-all before the halftime whistle.

Striker Olivia Shannon scored the hosts second goal. Queensland had a penalty corner on the last play of the game which could have secured a draw but the hosts defensive wall was rock-like.

Heal admitted the hosts had to switch things up in the first half when Queensland enjoyed long periods of dominance.They ruled the midfield during these periods.

"Their intensity was a lot higher. They were aggressive on the ball and very technically sound."

Heal said all of his players were outstanding. Captain Arabella Sheild and fellow midfielder Rileigh Knapp did well to shut the Queensland midfield down after it had the upper hand.
Striker Molly Frame and defenders Sophie James and Sasha Norris were also key architects in the memorable win. Last year Queensland won both games in the challenge.

The Hawke's Bay under-18 invitational boys team lost 7-2 to their Queensland counterparts in the curtainraiser after trailing 4-0 at halftime. Bay coach Doug Mills said the game was a lot closer than the score suggests.

"We can win when we play them tomorrow," Mills said referring to today's 6.45pm encounter against the Aussies.

"If we can improve our game within what we can control we can do it as long as we execute and live up to the challenge."

Should the Bay lads build on last night's second half display they could back up Mills prediction. Sean Findlay, a son of Hawke's Bay masters representative Graeme Findlay, and fellow striker, Hawke's Bay tennis representative Andrew Shand, scored the Bay's goals.

Captain Hamish Gilbert and fellow midfielder Sachan Dadrah played well for the hosts. Mills heaped kudos on the tourists.

"They were a tight tidy unit."