Hockey: WBHS take down Bream Bay

Whangarei Girls' High School's Amy Horn controls possession against Mangapai. Photo/Michael Cunningham

It was a tight tussle between Whangarei Boys' High School and Bream Bay in their premier men's hockey match on Saturday with Boys' High, coming out eventual winners 4-2.

WBHS went two goals up early in the game through Rio Tuson and Cameron Lindsay but Bream Bay fought back to equalise going into halftime with goals from Kieran Lynn and Nui Meuli-Hemara.

Bream Bay coach Vicki Gribble praised her side's defence for keeping them in the game.

"It is just learning to be disciplined and sticking to the game plan and I think they did that really well," Gribble said.

She added that her goalkeeper Adam Taylor played outstandingly and the defence worked well around him to keep WBHS out.

"When we allow the keeper to play, that allows a lot more space and a lot more opportunity to turn the ball over," Gribble said.

WBHS took the lead in the third quarter of the match when Bronson Baker converted a penalty corner but with experienced players returning from injury for Bream Bay, they were able to stay composed and launch their own attacks.

"We created our own chances too but we couldn't finish and that's been the story of our season," Gribble said.

A second goal from Lindsay in the final minutes of the game stretched WBHS' lead to 4-2.

In the other premier men's match Springfield beat Mangapai 3-0 to hold on to their lead at the top of the table.

In the premier women's competition, Old Girls knocked Springfield off the top of the table by beating their rivals 2-1 in a tight match on Friday night.

Maungakaramea beat Hikurangi 3-1 while Whangarei Girls' High School beat Mangapai 7-0 on Saturday.