Hockey: U18 girls battle rain, umpires

Hockey PHOTO/FILE

A wet and miserable Wanganui Under 18 girls team left the sodden Nelson pitch with a 1-0 loss in the final game of the NZ Hockey tournament against Taranaki on Saturday morning.

In depressingly wet conditions, Wanganui held their provincial neighbours to 0-0 before giving up a goal inside the last eight minutes to have to settle for tenth place overall.

Coach Haley Mallinder said the match was intense despite the conditions, with the Taranaki players using a number of techniques her team had not previously encountered.

"Unfortunately it was a shame being the last day of tournament - [the rain] coming in sideways.

"We had a bit of a run in with the umpires."

Defender Lucy Tui, 17, was named the team's Most Valuable Player for the tournament, being chosen by both Mallinder and anonymous vote by the team.

After beating Bay of Plenty 7-0 in their opening match last Monday, Wanganui suffered disappointing losses to Waikato (3-2) and Hawkes Bay (1-0) to miss the Top 8 playoffs.

They rebounded to beat Tasman 2-0 and then Southern - a combination of Otago and Southland - 3-1 to make Saturday's 9th/10th final with Taranaki.

The sizeable majority of the team play for Collegians in the Manawatu League, so their Saturday game with the High School Hockey Club Rebels was deferred.

Mallinder said they were likely to play the crucial matchup this coming Sunday evening, following their regular game with College on Saturday, as they need the win over HSHC Rebels to give themselves a chance at the Top 4.

"I think we'll be quite solid for that."