Visitors too strong for hosts

UNDER PRESSURE: The story of Saturday's Manawatu League game as TCOB's Ash Blanche tries to take on two PNBHS defenders in William Miles and Nathan Chaney at Gonville Domain. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO 120414WCSMHOCKEY1

Both the Palmerston North Boys' and Girls' High Schools teams had a good afternoon at the expense of their Wanganui opposition at the Gonville Domain on Saturday afternoon.

Tech College Old Boys and Collegians are still in the hunt for victory No1 for the 2014 Manawatu League as the TCOB were swamped by PNBHS 5-0, while Collegians hung in there with PNGHS before going down 4-2.

TCOB player/coach Trent Williamson said his team got around five shots on the goal area, but could not capitalise.

Currently getting around five players to training, the offseason of retirements, defections to other sports, overseas trips and injuries were taking a toll.

"If I had any hair, I would have pulled it out," Williamson said. "We've lost eight of our starting XI from last year, so she's definitely a rebuilding phase.

"We've got one forward from last year's front line. No one's left."

What was particularly galling was it was the first time the veteran Williamson had lost to PNBHS as a player, having been injured the one previous occasion the schoolboys upset TCOB.

"Those boys have been together for two years now, they're just fitter," he said.

Collegians had been looking promising when they made a second half comeback to tie the scores 2-2 with PNGHS through goals from Maggie Symes and Sarah Robinson.

They had trailed 2-0 at the break after PNGHS got their second goal right on halftime from a penalty corner.

However, with a two player-depth on their bench, Collegians were stung when Haley Mallinder, who had just returned to playing after family commitments, caught a nasty blow to the head and was taken away by ambulance with a suspected concussion.

"We lost a player and just went downhill from there," said coach Jan Dixon.

After the long delay, PNGHS rallied to score twice more to claim the match.

There is no hockey this Easter Weekend, while TCOB and Collegians will play their respective High School Hockey Club (HSHC) men's and women's teams at Gonville on April 26.

The TCOB women's team - Techo - will take to the field for their first game against Massey in Palmerston North.

Williamson hopes to run his squad into some form by the time TCOB hold their club day on May 10.