TCOB win controversial thriller

TCOB's Lee Moir clears the HSHC keeper Ben Smith during his team's thrilling 2-1 win at the Gonville Domain on Saturday.

It was an extraordinary 17 goal turnaround for Tech College Old Boys after they pulled out a 2-1 upset win over High School Hockey Club in a controversial Manawatu Premier 1 game at Gonville on Saturday.

Back home after five consecutive road games to Palmerston North, the last of which was an 18-1 slaughter by undefeated College, TCOB were finally able to call upon a full squad with Craig Ritani back at centre, while Matt Forward and Callum Wilbur shored up the defence.

"It made a pleasant change," said coach Russell Burgess.

"It was a game with a totally different attitude.

"It was good to see our guys playing with a bit of flair."

TCOB scored in the third quarter after Forward got a great drag shot off a penalty corner.

HSHC replied with a drag of their own to start the final period, before Chad Warner got his team's nose back in front after another penalty.

"We had another bit of a building from open play," said Burgess.

"It was well rewarded, in the fact everyone had been trying so hard."

Controversy then erupted on fulltime as HSHC got a penalty corner and scored to equalise.

However, both umpires had spotted that a HSHC player had "broken into the circle" before the ball arrived, and while the umpire of offence initially awarded the goal, she immediately conferred with the umpire on defence, and they agreed to wave it off.

"Much to [HSHC's] disgust. You're not allowed to enter the circle beforehand, I didn't even know the rule until afterwards," said Burgess.

Infuriated Black Sticks player Michaela Curtis, who along with Pip Norman is granted exemption to play men's hockey, blew up at the umpires and was given a green card, which was then followed by a yellow straight away when she would not stop demonstrating at the officials.

"She wasn't happy with that, but she doesn't understand the ruling," said Burgess.

"I expect some backlash, but regardless of what happened, she can't lose the plot like that."

HSHC received another penalty corner attempt but could not connect for the equaliser.

"They were very, very upset, they didn't come up top [to the clubrooms], only the two Air Force boys came up because we've got one Air Force guy in our team," said Burgess.

The win throws TCOB a lifeline with two home games remaining in the round robin, as they moved back within two points of HSHC in fourth spot.

They will take on winless Palmerston North Boys High this Saturday, while HSHC have to face the undefeated College.

"We can do it, I'm confident our boys can get up for this," said Burgess.

"[HSHC] will not beat College. We could sneak in."

The team is still expecting fellow veteran Craig Hillbourne and the talented Tyler Nicoll-Hylton to return, while young Kalin Mooney stepped up on Saturday to play his best game of the season.

Finally playing back at home after a month, TCOB were able to call on a number of veterans like Callum Wilbur.

There were less celebrations for the Wanganui women's team in their home Manawatu Premier 1 clash with Palmerston North Girls High, who came back from their 3-3 draw the last time the team's met to record a 5-2 victory.

Down 2-1 at halftime, Wanganui were still in the match until a late blowout by the speedy Manawatu teenagers.

Jessica Watkin got one of Wanganui's goals with an excellent reverse shot on the net.

"There was some good phases, but it was mainly their marking that was one of the issues," said Wanganui's Kylie Penn.

A number of cross passes which could have caught out the keeper with a good shot just weren't latched onto, Penn said.

"We just needed to get a stick to it as it was coming across the circle.

"There was three of them, they were only centimetre misses."

The loss was painful as PNGHS leapfrogged Wanganui into fourth spot on the ladder heading into the last round robin games this Saturday.

Wanganui will face third-placed Massey in Palmerston North in a must-win clash, while PNGHS take on winless College Development.