Hockey: Women's Aces to fly Rotorua flag

The Midlands Intercity hockey competition enters the play-offs this weekend. Pictured is the BOP Indians (Rotorua) in action. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Rotorua Aces women's team will fly the flag for Rotorua during the Midlands Intercity hockey competition semifinals.

The Midlands Intercity competition underwent a revamp this season with Waikato clubs rejoining it, taking the number of teams to 15 men's sides and 12 women's sides.

The Rotorua Aces women's team have done the best of the Rotorua sides this season, finishing fourth in their championship heading into the semifinals.

They will travel to Thames on Saturday to face-off against an undefeated Thames Valley United team in the first semifinal. The other women's semifinal sees Otumoetai host Te Awamutu in Tauranga.

Rotorua Aces women's player/manager Aroha Thompson said it would be a tough match but they were happy to make the play-offs.

"Making the semis was our goal at the start of the season, so goal achieved," she said.

"We would like to win this weekend but if we progress to the final it is definitely a bonus for us."

Valley United have not lost a single match this season and the semifinal fixture is shaping up to be something of a David versus Goliath battle.

"They are a good side," Thompson said.

"I think for us it will be about trying to control the speed of the game. They will obviously be very clinical and slick at what they do, so for us we can't get overwhelmed and if we can control the speed of the game, we will give ourselves a fighting chance."

Unfortunately, Thompson said five of their players would not be able to play this weekend as they were on a school trip to Hawaii, with local school Ruamata.

The Rotorua Aces men's team have made a semifinal this weekend in the plate competition, which is the equivalent of the second division in the men's grade.

They just missed out on making the championship competition this year - reserved for the top eight men's sides in the Midlands region - and have not lost a game in the plate competition.

They will host Waikato University at Smallbone Park on Saturday after finishing second on the ladder in the plate competition.

Meanwhile, Rotorua's Bay of Plenty Indians will play-off for fifth in the men's championship this weekend in Rotorua, and Marist St Michael's will also compete for fifth in the women's plate competition in Hamilton.

Midlands Hockey semifinals this Saturday

Men's grade (home side listed first):

Championship: Hamilton Old Boys (1) v Suburbs Piako (4); Otumoetai (2) v Te Awamutu (3).

Plate: Kohekohe (1) v Mount Maunganui (4); Rotorua Aces (2) v Waikato University (3) at Smallbone Park in Rotorua.

Women's grade (home side listed first):

Championship: Thames Valley United (1) v Rotorua Aces (4); Fraser Tech (2) v Otumoetai Magic (3).

Plate: Waikato University (1) v Katikati Cougars (4); Mount Maunganui (2) v Onewhero

Pukekohe (3)