The local bragging rights go to Tech College Old Boys women's team after Kylie Penn bagged a hat-trick of goals in their 3-1 win over town rivals Collegians at Gonville Domain on Saturday.
After the 1-1 deadlock of their first ever matchup in the Hockey Manawatu Club competition, manager Ian Glenny said Tech had done a lot of work on structure and passing, under the guidance of coach Mason Glenny and captain Michelle Low.
On Saturday the front three of Cherie Spooner, Kathryn Paul and Penn brought some excellent play, and after the latter's first goal her confidence soared.
Tech led 2-0 at the break, before Collegians counter-attacked with similar patterns.
"But they forced them to go wide ... then they would consolidate on that," Glenny said.
He said both teams had their flat periods, and after Collegians closed the gap to 2-1, Penn latched on to an aerial ball to nail her third field goal.
"She just had one of those games. We're thrilled she got the hat-trick."
Tech sit fourth in the seven-team competition, exceeding their expectations from pre-season when the team first formed.
Down in Palmerston North, some ill-discipline and energetic hustle from their young opponents pushed the TCOB's men before they wore down Palmerston North Boys High School 4-2.
Coach Langley Atkinson said two yellow cards did not help their chances as his men got frustrated by the teenagers.
"They were going out of their way to stop our breaks at any cost and not getting penalised for it," said Atkinson.
"They're a young, fit side, very balanced across the park.
"You've got to grind them down slowly."
Palmerston North scored in the opening five minutes off a deflection, before TCOB regained momentum by halftime 2-1.
Matt Ford scored from a penalty corner while Brett Poloski got a deflection in.
Going out to 3-1 through a Patrick Reynolds goal seemed to have matters in hand but the Palmerston North side would not go away, closing the gap to 3-2.
Martin Atkinson scored from a penalty corner late in the game to settle the issue.
Atkinson said the victory put them four points clear of their chasers in fourth spot, an important gap before facing a "nuggety" Marist in Wanganui this coming Saturday.
Also in Palmerston North there was a funny sight on the Rangers bench in their 9-2 loss to top-flight Massey on Saturday.
Manager Bryce Balsley said with five players unavailable, the team recruited three youngsters aged about 14, and evergreen campaigner Ian Glenny the Hockey Wanganui chairman - who helped to fill the breech.
"Ian looked at the three high school guys on the bench and he was older than them all put together," laughed Balsley.
They had an impact as well, with Glenny and high school player Joseph Redpath scoring their team's goals.
Given Massey are laden with Central representative players, Balsley said it was a much improved performance on Rangers' 12-0 hammering from Manawatu last time out.