The calculators and cellphones will be working overtime for the Tech College Old Boys men's and women's teams as both cling on to fourth spot in their respective Manawatu Club grades.
With two rounds to go before the playoffs, neither TCOB team helped their chances with defeats on Saturday, as the men lost a 4-3 thriller to College while "Techno" had a second half collapse against High School Hockey Club to lose 5-1.
From Palmerston North, TCOB coach Langley Atkinson got straight on the cellphone to his other Rangers team back in Wanganui, hoping they could cause an upset and at least tie Marist, but despite the young team's best efforts they went down 3-0.
"I thought, 'oh please, Bryce [Balsley], make those boys win'," Atkinson said.
TCOB drew 2-2 with Marist the previous weekend and thus kept them four points back in fifth, so the Wanganui club needed a result against College.
"It was really to take the pressure off the next two weeks. Pretty disappointing to not come away with those points."
Now ahead by one competition point, they have to hope Marist drop at least one of their remaining matchups against MCOB or Palmerston North Boys' High, because while TCOB's local derby with Rangers this Saturday should be straightforward, they finish the regular competition against the table-topping Massey.
Against College, TCOB's striker Patrick Reynolds scored all three of his team's goals.
College recovered to lead 2-1 at the break, then appeared to have made the game safe at 3-1 with 15 minutes left.
"The last 10 minutes, there was a planned strategy change if we were behind," Atkinson said.
His team started to spread out, with the ball travelling to the highest man or the nearest gap, and opening up the field led to two more Reynolds' goals to tie the match 3-3. However, one slip at the back let College through for the matchwinner with just two minutes to play.
Rangers manager Bryce Balsley said they would have liked to help their mates from the same town out - having only lost to Marist 5-2 last time and being only 1-0 down with 20 minutes left, they had chances.
"We created heaps of opportunities but just didn't put one in the net. We're doing everything else except scoring goals."
Since Reynolds and Junior Black Stick wider squad member Martin Atkinson moved over to TCOB, Rangers have struggled without a senior striker.
Ben Luff-Scott had a good game at goalie, while Josh Rainey tidied up a lot of play at the back.
Techno knew it would be a tough match with HSHC, given they are up with Massey at the top of the league.
Going down 1-0 after two minutes, Techno had tied them 1-1 going into the break.
"We were probably playing some of the best structured hockey we have this season," manager Ian Glenny said.
But after forcing HSHC into mistakes, it was the home team that "fell over" in the second stanza to let in four goals.
Kathryn Paul and Kylie Penn each had a chance to get one back but could not capitalise.
Techno hold on to fourth ahead of HSHC Evergreens, who are their opponents this Saturday and the first scalp the new Wanganui club team claimed back in May, 4-2.
Glenny said that was the game they were really targeting, as to make the top four in their debut season would be an overachievement.
"If we could play hockey all season like we played in that first half, I'd be a happy manager."
There was further disappointment in the Collegians game over in Palmerston North, as they went down narrowly to College 2-1.
Results
Manawatu club competition Men: College beat TCOB 4-3; Marist beat Rangers 3-0. Women: HSHC beat TCOB women 5-1; College beat Collegians 2-1.