Hockey: Otumoetai take out Indians

The Indians (Rotorua) lost to Otumoetai on Saturday. Pictured is Indians player Sukhandeep Singh (left).

The Bay of Plenty Indians have lost to Otumoetai during their first game in the championship of the Midlands hockey competition.

The Midlands intercity men's hockey competition has been split into the Championship division and Plate division this year, following grading at the start of the season.

During the first round of the Championship on Saturday, which is reserved for the top eight men's sides, the Indians (Rotorua) travelled to Tauranga to play a good Otumoetai team.

Otumoetai were too good for the visitors winning 3-0.

Meanwhile, in the plate division, the Rotorua Aces drew 2-2 with Waikato University in Hamilton. The Plate division features the bottom seven men's teams in the Midlands competition.

In the Midlands women's competition on Saturday, the Rotorua Aces defeated Piako 4-0 at home while Marist St Michael's (Rotorua) lost to Te Awamutu in a goal fest 7-4 at Smallbone Park.

Midlands hockey covers a huge area and features clubs from Counties Manukau through to Rotorua.

- Midlands hockey results on Saturday:

Men: Championship: Otumoetai 3-0 BOP Indians, Thames Valley United 1-1 Fraser Tech, Aber Old Boys 3-1 Suburbs Piako, Pukekohe Indians 1-6 Te Awamutu. Plate: Kohekohe 3-0 Onewhero Pukekohe, Tauranga Old Boys 1-10 Mount Maunganui, Rotorua Aces 2-2 Waikato University, Waiau Pa Pirates bye.

Women: Thames Valley United 11-0 Katikati, Rotorua Aces 4-0 Suburbs Piako, Onewhero Pukekohe 0-2 Old Girls, Otumoetai 4-3 Waikato University, Mount Maunganui 0-6 Fraser Tech, Marist St Michael's 4-7 Te Awamutu.