Hockey: National triumph for Midlands team

JUMP FOR JOY: The Midlands under-18 girls' hockey team celebrate after winning the national tournament in Napier at the weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 140714HOCKEY

The Midlands under-18 girls' hockey team returned home with a gold medal after an impressive tournament in Napier.

The 2014 national under-18 tournament was held last week with the finals being played at the weekend.

Midlands defeated Auckland 3-2 in the final of the girls' competition. The Midlands under-18 boys' team also made it to the final but lost to a good Canterbury side 3-2.

The successful girls team boasted three local players, Manjot Lall, Lorin Teidt (both Rotorua) and Tori Robinson (Whakatane).

Rotorua's Te Kiraka Chase, Declan Keaney and Ethan Martin represented the Midlands boys' team.

Midlands under-18 boys coach Donna Keaney said it was a great effort from both sides.

She said the boys were defending champions at the tournament, so every team came out wanting to beat them.

Keaney said the girls' team finished fifth last year so their improvement to win was a great achievement and they had developed into a good team.

Midlands is made up of players from Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, Tauranga, Thames Valley and Waikato.