TCOB hope they have found formula in Manawatu Premier hockey

TCOB's Tyler Nicoll-Hylton looks to snatch possession against College A at Gonville on Saturday.

Tech College Old Boys hope they have found the competitive formula which will work against the top sides in the Manawatu Premier Men's grade after their 5-2 loss to two-time defending champions College A at Gonville on Saturday.

On the face of it, a three goal loss is not encouraging, but TCOB knew they were up against it from the outset and rolled the dice on trying a completely new formation up front.

They were promptly 2-0 down at the end of the first quarter and then leaked three more goals before halftime.

"It took us a while to get used to it, shall we say," said senior player Calum Wilbur.

However, TCOB then kept a clean sheet in the third quarter, before quickly scoring back-to-back goals in the final period through Lee Moir and Patrick Madder.

"By the end of the second half, they were a little bit nervous," said Wilbur of the visiting team.

"We had to change what we were doing to be able to play them, and it took 30 minutes to get used to it."

Moir and Madder both scored through well set up tap-in goals, with Moir's coming after a good buildup that worked the ball around the pitch and left him with an open goal.

Madder was on the post when Wanganui Collegiate's German exchange student Jacob Wulfe beat three players to set him up.

Having won the second half against the champions, TCOB are encouraged as they will take a break for Queen's Birthday Weekend, before facing MCOB at Gonville on June 8.

College A sit second place behind Massey A, although Massey has played one more match than the other top sides.

Meanwhile an understrength Whanganui Women's team have lost their undefeated Premier Reserve Women's tag after a deflating 1-0 loss to High School Hockey Club Evergreens at the Twin Turfs.

Coach Colleen Baylis said she encouraged "five dice" attack - two players on the posts, two on the corners of the shooting circle and one in the centre – but her team just didn't follow through.

"Unfortunate, [the score] is not a reflection of the game," she said.

"Good passing, combined well, but failed to finish.

The side had done their best with the bare 11 players and no reserves, going up against a 16-strong outfit with rolling subs.

HSHC Evergreen's goal came midway through the second half.

"There was still plenty of opportunities to equalise after that," Baylis said.

"Balls going forward, but no-one on the receiving end."

They currently remain on top of the table with four wins and a draw from their five games, but will have the bye after Queen's Birthday Weekend, before their next game with Massey B at Gonville on June 16.