Hockey: Whanganui Women lose their lead in dying seconds of Massey Reserve clash

Grace Godfrey added another goal to her tally in the Whanganui Women's 4-all draw with Massey Reserves in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The Whanganui Women have maintained their unbeaten record in the Manawatu Premier Reserve Women's grade, but not without frustration as a successful penalty corner at fulltime saw Massey Reserves get up for a 4-all draw at the Twin Turfs on Saturday.

Coach Colleen Baylis arrived in Palmerston North after the game's start where her team were slow out of the blocks, trailing 2-1.

They recovered to be holding onto a 4-3 lead with time up, when the umpires made what Baylis considers another contentious ruling, and Massey Reserves nailed their final chance to tie the match.

While the team admitted they had not started the match well and Baylis said Massey Reserves were competitive, the old Whanganui chestnut of head scratching decisions from the local officials has re-entered the discussion.

"[Massey] played really well, it was just...umpiring decisions didn't go our way," said Baylis.

"We've had the same two umpires in a row – that's the end of that story."

Whanganui's goal scorers were Liz Hunter, Jan Dixon, Grace Godfrey and the youngster Lucy Skedgwell, who was joining mother Nicky on the field.

The senior Skedgwell had another strong game, as did Kirsty Parsons and Kate Tylee, with Tylee having a busy weekend with the Central Under 18 representative trials on Sunday.

The draw still keeps Whanganui on top of the table, one point ahead of Athletic and High School Hockey Club B, who both have a game in hand and are undefeated from their two matches.

Whanganui will host HSHC B at Gonville this Saturday and Baylis is mindful of their form after they hammered College 8-0 and won their club derby with the HSHC Evergreens 3-2.

"They're a pretty handy team, High School are always strong."

The match starts at 1.30pm.

It was not a good afternoon at the Twin Turfs for Tech College Old Boys, who were hammered 6-0 by a fitter High School Hockey Club A.

Coming off the deferred weekend for Manawatu Premier Men's games, TCOB's senior player Chad Warner was away on official Air Force duties in Fiji, while Lee Moir was representing Central Under 21 at tournament.

"Short of midfield players without Chad and Lee is our senior and most experienced forward, otherwise all our other forwards are Under 18's – most of which had Central U18 trials the next day," said player Calum Wilbur.

TCOB had a squad of 14 for the trip to Palmerston North, but struggled for direction after HSHC's first goal from a drag flick into the top corner.

The home side pressed their advantage with two goals in the second quarter, both from breakaways.

HSHC added three more goals in the second half, two of them coming from turnovers in the final quarter.

"They were just solid, they moved the ball around pretty well and we defended badly at times," Wilbur said.

"We had 3-4 chances and we didn't even get shots in good off them. We weren't fit enough."

Goal keeper Hayden Mullins, who commutes from Levin to play for TCOB, did his best to hold back the tide.

TCOB have the bye this weekend, so thanks to the deferred weekend they will play only twice in four weeks.

Wilbur said they will try to do some extra work, which is needed after three losses with 16 goals conceded for only one scored.

"We're probably going to try and get a warmup game with one of the [Whanganui] High School teams here, because the first game back after is Palmerston Boys High."