Hockey: WBHS score early to topple Bream Bay

Whangārei Boys' High School toppled Bream Bay in their premier men's clash. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Two first quarter goals were enough for Whangarei Boys' High School to beat Bream Bay in their premier men's hockey match on Saturday.

Scoring early on in the match meant WBHS were in control of the game, leaving Bream Bay to play catch-up and try to enforce their own game plan on the match.

"They play really quite fast so it really was about trying to slow the game down to our pace," Bream Bay coach Vicki Gribble said.

Bream Bay had some chances to score but were unable to convert and Gribble said it is a part of their game they are still working on.

"That's a critical part of our game that we don't have right now," Gribble said.

"Our defence is a lot more settled and a lot more composed, its just trying to change the other end now."

Bream Bay have been a much improved side this year and Gribble is positive about the changes they've made.

"We just have to keep doing what we're doing and have to look at improving our overall game more than anything," she said.

In the other premier men's match, Mangapai overcame a depleted Maungakaramea side to win 4-2 and put the teams level on top of the competition table.

In the premier women's competition, Whangarei Girls' High School held on to their lead despite a determined Hikurangi fightback to win 3-2 on Friday night.

Old Girls did enough in the first half and were able to hold out a second half onslaught from Maungakaramea to win 4-3 on Saturday.