Hockey: Wilson hat-trick leads Maungakaramea to victory

Maungakaramea won over Whangarei Girls' High School in their premier women's hockey match

A hat trick from Maungakaramea striker Tara Wilson helped her side to a 4-0 win over Whangarei Girls' High School in their premier women's hockey match on Saturday.

In what was shaping to be the closest game of the round, between the third and fourth-placed sides, the first half remained scoreless as both defences held strong.

Girls' High dominated territory and put Maungakaramea under pressure for much of the first quarter but Maungakaramea coach Kirsten Forrester praised her side's defence for soaking up the pressure.

"We held our nerve in the back and worked hard with man-to-man marking and tight defence," Forrester said.

Forrester was happy her side stuck to their game plan saying "our defence kept them wide and didn't let them come into the circle and didn't let them use the middle of the paddock".

With the halftime score locked at nil-all, Forrester reassured her team they would get their opportunities.

"I told the girls to keep composure, keep focus and to keep the intensity up and the goals would eventually come."

It was shortly after halftime that Anna Cooper converted off a Maungakaramea penalty corner before Tara Wilson got her first off another penalty corner soon after.

Wilson got her second from a skilful deflection towards the end of the third quarter to stretch the lead to three with one quarter remaining.

Wilson's hat-trick goal came from another deft deflection when a crash ball found its way through to her standing unmarked in the circle to touch it high into the net.

In the other premier women's game, Old Girls beat Hikurangi 6-0 while Springfield beat Mangapai by default.

In the premier men's competition Maungakaramea put on a comprehensive performance to beat Bream Bay 8-1 while Mangapai beat Whangarei Boys' High School 2-1.