Ngātapa's Lucinda Candy has two Gisborne Girls' High players to contend with in their Poverty Bay women's club hockey game on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. Ngātapa won 6-1. Photo / Liam Clayton
Ngātapa's Lucinda Candy has two Gisborne Girls' High players to contend with in their Poverty Bay women's club hockey game on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. Ngātapa won 6-1. Photo / Liam Clayton
The defending champions flexed their muscles on the opening week of Poverty Bay club hockey at Harry Barker Reserve.
Women’s champs GMC Green showed clubmates GMC Kowhai no mercy under the lights on the Hain Farming Turf on Friday night.
The Green Machine ran riot in a 17-0 victory inwhat was also a trial to sort out the composition of the GMC sides.
“GMC Green certainly made sure the teams were sorted before next weekend’s clash with YMP A,” hockey commentator Tony Scragg said.
“Shannon Williams’ six goals and Jade Stafford’s three led the way in a one-sided start to the 2024 season.”
The second match that night was a much different story as LPSC Traktion men had to work hard to beat YMP B 2-1.
“Traktion scored first in their clash, YMP B replied and the game was locked up to the dying stages when Traktion’s Matt King scored the deciding goal with less than a minute to go,” Scragg said.
“It was a positive start for the YMP B side, who will have other teams wary of them.”
Saturday’s programme started with a 2-0 win to YMP A in their women’s encounter with LPSC Emerre Hathaway Insurance.
“YMP A’s Brooke Willock scored goals in each of the first quarters to take a 2-0 lead going into halftime.
“Paikea backed up in defence and stopped a YMP charge in the second half. They came off the turf happy to contain their opposition to two goals.”
Gisborne Girls' High's Leah Tupara is challenged by Ngātapa's Annabel Hustler in the opening week of Poverty Bay club hockey games on the turf at Harry Barker Reserve. Photo / Liam Clayton
In the next match, PGG Wrightson Ngatapa won well against Gisborne Girls’ High School first 11 - 6-1.
“Ngātapa could not have asked for a better start to their season with that impressive victory over a youthful Girls’ High team.
“Two goals each to Briar Robb and Annabel Hustler and single goals to Kate Pahina and Jamie Tombleson led the way.
“Girls’High’s Emily Petro made sure no whitewash was on the cards with her side’s goal.”
Contrasting men’s results finished the day.
Reigning champs YMP A, as expected, were far too good for LPSC Resene Masters in an 11-0 romp.
“YMP made light work in their clash with the Masters and managed a great flow of goals in the first half,” Scragg said.
