Hockey: Unbeaten opponents hammer Whanganui teams

Both Whanganui teams had to play away against unbeaten sides in the Manawatu Premier 1 grades on Saturday, including Liz Hunter's team facing High School Hockey Club.

The Wanganui women's team great run of form in Manawatu Premier 1 came to a full stop halt against the table topping High School Hockey Club on Saturday, but the 9-1 loss was by no means the worst result of the weekend.

Across on the men's side, the understrength Tech College Old Boys finally suffered the blowout they feared on their fifth straight match down at the Twin Turfs, being hammered 18-1 by undefeated College.

Having been unbeaten in their pervious four games from a win and three draws, which included holding strong teams Massey and College to stalemates, Wanganui found the unbeaten HSHC to be a different proposition - having now scored 39 goals to just four conceded in eight games.

"We went goal for goal, it was 3-1 in the first quarter," said coach Colleen Baylis.

"For there, it was two goals every quarter.

"We had plenty of opportunities, the big difference was we just gave too much space in the circle."

Wanganui's goal was a good reply to HSHC's early penalty, as Grace Godfrey scored off good lead up work by Georgia Matson, who latched onto a pass and sent Godfrey on her way.

But from there, HSHC pursued the match with their usual ruthless efficiency.

"They've been together for a long time as well, the core of them a good 4-5 years, and that's the difference," said Baylis.

The loss dropped Wanganui back to fourth spot on the table after Massey picked up a big 5-0 win over College Development to move one competition point ahead of them.

They will play Palmerston North Girls High School this weekend back home at Gonville, with PNGHS now two points behind them in fifth.

For TCOB, the toll of travelling to Palmerston North every week for over a month and all their personnel issues came to a head, with coach Russell Burgess only having 12 players for the College game.

Having previously lost 7-0 and 7-3 to College, this time there was no respectability on the scoreboard as the visitors were totally outmatched.

TCOB will now finally have a run of three home matches at Gonville to finish out the season, starting with fourth placed HSHC this Saturday.

The home side are five points behind HSHC and still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, as they trail HSHC by five points and then play winless Palmerston North Boys High and second-placed Massey.

But it will take a big effort and suitable reinforcement for the side to pick up two victories and scrape through as the last playoffs qualifier.