Hockey: Hot start helps Maungakaramea to victory

Hikurangi's Chenae Phillips takes the ball up in their clash with Maungakaramea. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

A first quarter blitz gave Maungakaramea the edge in their 4-1 win over Springfield in their premier men's hockey match.

Scoring three goals early in the match set Maungakaramea up for the rest of the game and player/coach Sean Laidlaw said "the first quarter was one of our best in a few years."

"We have the same core group which is fantastic and we've been building on that for a couple years so it's good to see it flowing into our game now," he added.

Maungakaramea got on the board early when their slick passing found one of their strikers free in the circle and he finished with an easy flick over the keeper.

They doubled their lead soon after when an unmarked player slotted the ball home from the post.

With a minute remaining in the first quarter of Friday night's match, Maungakaramea converted a penalty corner to complete their first quarter blitz.

Springfield tightened up their defence for the final three quarters and managed to pull a goal back in the third quarter, but the lead was too much and Maungakaramea secured the win with their fourth goal in the final quarter.

"We are working on maintaining the game plan for the full 70 minutes now were as we let the foot off and let Springfield back into it ... but I think our structure shone through over anything," Laidlaw said.

In the other premier men's match, Mangapai beat Bream Bay 4-0 played earlier in the week.

In the premier women's matches, Hikurangi were given a sound defeat by Maungakaramea as they fell 7-1.

Maungakaramea were looking to return to the winner's circle after last week's defeat by Springfield and did so in emphatic style.

The other match saw Old Girls edge Springfield 2-1 to stay top of the table early in the season.