Whanganui Women unbeaten in Manawatu division two hockey competition

Veteran Michelle Low returns from injury for Whanganui Women against Massey Reserves in Palmerston North this weekend.

Whanganui women remain unbeaten after two matches in the Manawatu division two hockey comptition with a 2-1 victory over College Development in Palmerston North last weekend.

Player availability forced Wanganui Women to drop down a grade this season after playing in division one last year.

Coach Colleen Baylis said the same applied to both sides on Saturday with each struggling to field full teams.

"We were both down on numbers yet was still a close game," Baylis said.

"We traditionally have close matches with College Development. They beat us in the division two final in 2016 before we stepped up to division one last year.

"Our goal scorers on Saturday were Grace Godfrey and Charlotte Baker and came in quick succession around the 15 minute mark in the second half. While they scored first at 25 minutes into first half we had more opportunities throughout the game that we were unable to capitalise on."

On season debut at home at the Gonville Domain, Whanganui Women demolished Marist B 14-0 in a totally one-sided affair two weeks ago.

The team return to Palmerston North this weekend to take on Massey Reserves, one of two Massey sides.

"We've got players coming back in this weekend, so I'm expecting a win," Baylis said.

One of those returning is evergreen Michelle Low who had some game time last weekend.

Low is recovering from a broken wrist and is slowly picking up the pace with game time ahead of her trip to Spain in later this year as part of the New Zealand women's masters team.

Low will play in the women's 45-49 age group at the 2018 Masters World Cup in Terrassa, Spain.

Meanwhile, the Whanganui TCOB men defaulted to Massey at the weekend, but return to battle in the Manawatu premier division against HSHC in Palmerston North on Saturday.