Hockey: Local teams get momentum

Wanganui's Haley Mallinder in action during the Central Hockey League tournament in Palmerston North at the weekend. Photo/Supplied

As one would expect with initially makeshift teams, there was a progression of improvement for both Wanganui representative squads at the weekend's Central Hockey League tournaments at Palmerston North's Twin Turfs.

Despite being propped up with a handful of invitation and origin players, both Wanganui teams competed fairly well as units, with the men's team beating Taranaki on Sunday afternoon after dragging the dominant Manawatu side into a penalty shootout in their opening match on Saturday morning.

The Wanganui women overcame a horror start - a hammering from Manawatu - to give much more honest effort in their remaining two games, including taking Taranaki into a penalty shootout on Sunday morning.

Despite being basically a TCOB club team aided by Manawatu players like Keiran Coughy, Josh Scott and development officer Nitin Ahuja, the Wanganui men gave a great account to be tied 1-1 with the home side at the end of regulation.

Coach Langley Atkinson said the newcomers were determined to prove themselves against their provincial mates.

"That was an absolutely top effort, given [Manawatu] are generally the strongest team in the competition."

They lost the penalty shootout and were looking to force another later that afternoon against Hawkes Bay, being 1-0 with five minutes remaining.

Desperate attempts for an equaliser saw Wanganui lose possession and pay for it at the other end with a 2-0 final score.

"Another close game and the boys played pretty well," said Atkinson.

Wanting to take something out of their weekend, Wanganui put it together with a 3-2 win over Taranaki on Sunday, breaking the 2-2 deadlock with a late goal to finish third overall, but miss the final which Manawatu duly went on to win against Hawkes Bay.

Andrew Jurgens was Wanganui's MVP for the tournament, Atkinson observing he made some very good saves.

It was a different story in the Wanganui women's opening match, with Beth Norman's goal the only bright spot in a 9-1 flogging from the eventual tournament winners.

The team had also been reinforced with two players from Horowhenua and two from Manawatu, which made continuity an issue initially.

"First game, new players, we just didn't do very good at all," said manager Kellie Watkin. "That was by far our worst game."

Wanganui were then frustrated they had the better share of territory against Hawkes Bay but were still beaten 3-1, with the Bay scoring at least two goals against the run of play.

Down 1-0 at the break, Wanganui replied with a score from Aleisha Rainey, but couldn't finish further in front of goal.

"It shouldn't have been 3-1, we played a lot better than the scoreline reflected," said Watkin.

The following day, Wanganui went goal-for-goal with Taranaki, with Jessica Watkin scoring twice from the field to be tied 2-2 by fulltime, before losing 4-1 in the penalty shootout.

"Our younger girls are use to [shootouts] because we did it at Under 18's, but others like Haley [Mallinder], it was their first time so it was a bit of a mixture."

Final placings

Men: 1. Manawatu; 2. Hawkes Bay; 3. Wanganui; 4. Taranaki.

Women: 1. Manawatu; 2. Hawkes Bay; 3. Taranaki; 4. Wanganui.