Hockey: Aces sweep opponents aside

Miri Raharui gets away from a Taupo opponent at Smallbone Park.Photo/Ben Fraser

Wins all round for Rotorua Aces as the women scored a home win and the men turned things around on the road.

At Smallbone Park on Saturday the women's team beat Taupo 5-0 with goals from Pare Rangitauira (2), Sonya Rakei, Rachael Hatcher and Jess Bradley. The men's team travelled to Pukekohe to take on Kohekohe. They returned with a 4-1 win.

"It should have been 25-0," said Rangitauira.

"It was one of those games. We had all the possession and we weren't threatened at the defensive end."

She said they were missing a few players due to representative commitments which meant younger players had to step up.

"When we have players missing, those who come into the fold, or who get more game time, it gives them an opportunity to show their stuff."

Rotorua Aces' men's player-coach Tenga Rangitauira said the Aces let in a Kohekohe goal to end the first half 1-0 down but after a "talking to" at halftime, they went back on and scored four goals.

"We only had 11 players so it was good to see the boys pick it up and maintain their fitness," he said.

BOP Indians beat Waiau away 4-1. Rotorua Aces and BOP Indians go head to head this Saturday.

Results from Midlands Intercity Hockey for June 28: Men: Kohekohe 1 Rotorua Aces 4 (Tuturangi Raharuhi, Jury Herewini, Haimona Te Nahu, Owen Mitai-Wells), Waiau 1 BOP Indians 4 (KJ Singh 2, Surinder Singh, Kamaldeep Singh); Women: Rotorua Aces 5 (Pare Rangitauira 2, Sonya Rakei, Rachael Hatcher, Jess Bradley) Taupo 0.