The Wanganui Under 15 Boys team have risen seven ranking points on last year to make the top eight at the 2013 national hockey championships in Christchurch, after a solid 3-0 victory over winless North Otago yesterday.
The Wanganui lads finished second in Pool D after earlier co-leaders Thames Valleybeat Waikato 3-2 yesterday. Thames Valley won Pool D on goal difference on the strength of a 6-0 whipping of North Otago on Monday. Wanganui drew with Thames Valley 1-1 on Tuesday.
However, finishing second in their pool was enough to propel Wanganui into the top eight, seven places better than they were ranked last year.
Wanganui now play Poverty Bay (winners of Pool A) today for a chance to make a semifinals berth.
Team manager Melissa Hylton said while the boys had put themselves under a bit of pressure, they were pretty stoked to have made it this far with a chance to go further.
"There's only one game a day, so they're hanging in there fairly well. The first goal today came from a penalty shot we were awarded. Albert Jordaan made no mistake hitting it into the top left corner like a bullet and that really set the ball rolling for us," Hylton said yesterday.
"The second goal came after some quick passing down the wing allowing Jordan Cohen to set up Chris Fergusson who made no mistake. The final goal was in the dying stages and scored well by Ryan Gray," Hylton said.
"That's pool play finished now. A win over Poverty Bay will put us in the top four."
