Hockey: Wanganui side gain confidence in draw

Hockey PHOTO/FILE

The Wanganui representative women's hockey wrapped up their national senior tournament at North Harbour with a confidence building 2-all draw with Counties Manukau.

Playing the same team that had beaten them 3-0 earlier in the week, Wanganui went goal for goal with the South Aucklanders in each half.

Jessica Watkin opened their account in the 19th minute with a field goal, before Counties struck back shortly before halftime.

Wanganui regained the lead in the 48th minute when Penny Stark scored off a penalty corner, then Counties Manukau got the equaliser five minutes later.

There was a lengthy stoppage 10 minutes into the second half when a Counties Manukau player got a ball deflection into the face and was helped off with a suspected broken nose.

The team showed a good turnaround after heavy defeats in their opening three games to narrowly lose 2-1 to eventual third-placed Canterbury, come from behind to beat NZDF 3-2, and then the draw with Counties in the seventh/eighth playoff.

"We just got better and better as the week went on," said team member Kylie Penn. "It's been an amazing experience, but if we'd gone with 16 [players] it could have been a different week."

Two of the team's six Taranaki imports pulled out before they left for North Harbour. This was the first Wanganui women's team to attend the national tournament in at least seven years.