Whanganui emphatic in win

CLASS ACT: Whanganui's Lisa Grant scored four goals in her team's stunning upset of College Development in Manawatu Women's Division 2 on Saturday.

AT THE start of the month, combined Whanganui coach Colleen Baylis had promised that the scoreline from her team's 7-0 hammering by College Development in Manawatu Women's Division 2 would "definitely change quite a bit" at their next meeting.

"I just didn't expect that much of a difference," Baylis said yesterday in regards to her team's stunning 10-1 thumping of the undefeated Palmerston North team at the Twin Turfs on Saturday.

"It's not a typo," she said of the scoreboard which swept Whanganui to the top of the four-team Premier division on a massive points differential.

College had only two players missing, admittedly one of them being a former NZ Development player, but even this could not explain Whanganui's dominance, with Lisa Grant personally scoring four goals - with two of them real crackers.

"I think the difference between what happened on Saturday and last time we played, our passing game was so much better and we denied them a bit of space," said Baylis.

"And that is their first loss of the season. Quite surprised."

Whanganui were leading 4-0 coming into halftime, where having survived the first five minutes of pressure, they scored a goal and then the floodgates just opened.

College Development regrouped around 10 minutes before the break and began to play a different setup.

"We did sort of expect them to change their tact," said Baylis.

"They tweaked their playing system, but didn't stick to it after halftime.

"We didn't have it all of our own way, we just coped with it a lot better."

Nicky Skedgwell and the dynamic Rebecca Baker had great games, while goalkeeper Joanna Bell was again strong, making saves including a one-on-one challenge.

Whanganui will now face High School Hockey Club B at the Twin Turfs, who are coming off a 1-0 win over their clubmates the Evergreens, who ironically beat Whanganui 2-1 the week before.

Meanwhile, the Tech College Old Boys had their own daunting task against the undefeated Massey in the Men's Division 1 competition and went down 6-1 at the Twin Turfs.

TCOB were on to a hiding to nothing after also facing second-placed HSHC last weekend and it was nearly a replica of that 5-1 loss - an improvement on the first round, but with several under-18 players missing there was not the impetus to convert territory into goals.

"The boys played exceptionally well, but again, it came down to finishing in the circle," said coach Russell Burgess.

"I find it hard to vary it up because the game was similar to last week."

Massey would score off four penalty corners - they did not dominant the momentum as play stayed between the quarterlines, but would win the 50-50 moments, as top sides often do.

For example, Cameron Burgess got free to be one-on-one with the keeper but could not convert, while Heinrich Burgstaller tried a tennis-style shot at goal which just went over the top.

Lee Moir scored TCOB's goal as they trailed 3-1 at halftime, as he and fellow forwards Josh McDonnell and Bryce McKenzie gave a tireless effort, but without reward.

New players Tom Adkins and Jack Pilet came into the squad and played out of position, but still did well.

Russell Burgess said they continued to deal with players not always being available to travel south due to work or school sports, but the side showed great spirit against the two top sides and could hopefully do better against the lower teams.

"I seem to be saying the same things, but it's true."

They travel to Levin to face MCOB on Saturday.