Hockey: Maungakaramea take out tight tussle

The reserve hockey competition threw up some interesting contests over the weekend. Photo/Getty Images

An early goal was enough for Maungakaramea to snatch a 1-0 win over Springfield in their reserve A women's hockey match.

Maungakaramea started the game well and used short passing to move forward on attack.

Ten minutes into the game Kellie Heappey got on the end of a well worked move and was able to slam the ball home from close range.

The match ebbed and flowed with both sides getting chances to score but the defences held strong.

Maungakaramea co-coaches Tracey Morgan and Janine Groves were happy with parts of their team's game but admit they need to work on maintaining their game plan for the whole 70 minutes.

Morgan said "we linked well in parts and scrambled well in defence against their fast breaking strikers."

Groves added "we need to capitalise on our goal scoring opportunities especially in these tight games."

Maungakaramea went close to doubling the score in the second half but had a shot bounce off the post and go clear.

In other reserve A women's matches on Friday, Hikurangi beat Parihaka 2-0 and Old Girls beat Kamo High School 1-0 while Whangarei Girls' High School beat Mangapai 7-0.

In the reserve men's competition, Maungakaramea went clear at the top of the table after beating second placed Hora Hora 4-1.

Springfield beat Whangarei Boys' High School 3-1 and Mangapai beat Bream Bay 2-1.