Whangarei Girls High School caused the boilover of the premier grade hockey competition on Saturday with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over title contenders Maungakaramea.
Girls High coach Paul Snelling said the side had come together as a team to snare victory despite being short four of their top players, whoare playing in Northland's U-21 side at nationals this week in Hamilton.
"We've been rotating positions in recent weeks to provide some depth in those positions and in the end it worked out for us," he said.
The side got behind early and by halftime they were two goals down.
It took a great save by stand-in goalkeeper Georgia Beazley, who normally plays for the third eleven to galvanise the side. Girls High broke down field to earn a penalty corner which was slotted by Keegan Parkes. Lucy Shand-Pia then equalised but it was another great save by Beazley that sparked another length-of-the-field raid for Loretta Gerrard to score the winner.
It was a great team performance but Snelling said exchange student Carlotta Duckwitz, Tyler Sanderson and Anna Miller deserved special mention. The win suggests the team may finally have turned a corner and they should provide a tougher challenge for the other sides in the competition.
All the games were closer in the women's premier competition with Hikurangi beating Kamo High School 1-0 and the two competition frontrunners Springfield and Old Girls drawing 2-all.
In the men's premier grade, Maungakaramea thumped Mangapai 9-1, and Springfield beat Bream Bay 2-1.
