Wairarapa College and St Matthew's Collegiate made successful starts to their Federation Cup national secondary schools hockey tournament campaigns at Clareville yesterday, both scoring 3-0 wins in their opening pool games.
It was not, however, all plain sailing for defending champions Wairarapa College in their victory over a gutsy EpsomGirls Grammar School combination.
There was a lot to like about the fluency of the Wairarapa College performance during a first half in which Emma Smith scored twice and Makayla Hanson once to give them a comfortable three-goal cushion at the break.
The second spell was a different story, however, with too many passes failing to find their target and a couple of prime scoring opportunities being "bombed" through a lack of intensity in the circle. There were also some anxious moments on defence with Epsom Girls threatening danger whenever their star attacker Rose Tynan was on the ball.
Outstanding for Wairarapa College was Megan Hull who was quick and elusive in attacking situations and solid on the tackle. Emma Smith and Michael O'Connor were others to impress and Morgan Percy's influence was missed when she was forced to leave the field with a hand injury.
St Matthew's Collegiate met the expected stern opposition from Palmerston North Girls High but were more precise in their finishing work.
Petra Hall, who featured in several penetrating runs, scored two of the St Matthew's goals and Latesha Smith the other. Kelsey Linton, Rebecca Perry and Georgina Warren were other standouts for a St Matthew's side which defended stoutly whenever PNGHS pressed forward.
In other matches played yesterday morning, St Cuthbert's beat Villa Maria 4-1, Whangarei Girls beat Gisborne High 3-0, Craighead Diocesan beat Rangitoto 2-0 and last year's runners-up Diocesan School beat Kristin School 1-0.
