Hockey: Win over school sweet for Old Girls

Springfield's Alana Millington in action against Maungakaramea at Kensington. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Old Girls got their payback on Whangarei Girls' High School with a convincing 4-0 win over their closest rivals in their premier women's hockey match on Friday night.

The top of the table side had suffered their only loss of the season in the two sides previous encounter and Old Girls' coach Alan Lints admitted there was an element of revenge in his side's preparation.

"We trained well, we had a good team talk, and everyone contributed, so it was a bit of payback and it's nice to win and win convincingly," he said.

Old Girls started the game strongly before Girls' High wrestled their way back into it in the first half.

However, a breakaway goal three minutes before halftime put Old Girls into the lead before the break.

Girls' High stayed in the game but a strong Old Girls' defence held their fast-paced attacks out.

Using their own skill and pace, Old Girls looked to play Girls' High at their own game and it paid off when they were awarded and converted a stroke just before the three-quarter time break.

"We met them with skill, we met them athleticism, we met them with physicality and I think we out fought them as well," Lints said.

Two goals in the final quarter pushed the score out to 4-0 and handed Girls' High their first loss of the season.

"We made good team decisions and all the passes we put together were quite meaningful, and we scored good team goals," he said.

Both of the other premier women's matches went down to the wire with final quarter match-winning goals scored.

Springfield beat Maungakaramea 2-1 and Hikurangi left it late to beat Mangapai 1-0.

In the premier men's competition, Maungakaramea battled back from behind to edge out Springfield 3-2, while Mangapai defeated Bream Bay United 5-1.