Women rebound to win

NEEDLE THREAD: Tech's Jordan Cohen looks to get the ball through two PNBHS defenders.

THE combined Whanganui women's team bounced back from the previous weekend's hammering by College Development to record a convincing 8-1 win over Massey in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The win and healthy goal differential will keep the squad securely in the Top 4 of the Manawatu Division 2 women's competition for another week.

While she could not attend the game at the Twin Turfs, coach Colleen Baylis said from reports that the team was a little slow to start but eventually worked through some good chains of passing.

Jessica Watkin scored a brace of goals in the very cold and wet conditions for the 6pm match.

Baylis said one key lesson from the game will be playing to the whistle, as Whanganui hung back from an infringement and, when it wasn't called, they gave up their only defensive goal.

Whanganui will have a Gonville game against PN Marist at 1.30pm on Saturday.

In the Manawatu Men's Division 1 competition, Tech College Old Boys fought out a razor's edge 1-1 draw with Palmerston North Boys' High at Gonville, with literally just an errant foot denying them the winning goal in the closing minutes.

Both teams scored rapidly after the start with TCOB's Bryce McKenzie getting a field goal, but as the rain picked up the opportunities dried up for both team's approaching halftime.

TCOB dominated territory in the opening stages of the second half, showing good communication and careful passing.

Jordan Cohen had a couple of dabs to the left side of the goal, while Cam Burgess had one shot which went just outside.

Two attempts from penalty corners by Matt Forward were away, the second through a brilliant save by the keeper, as the PNBHS team turned over a bit of possession, as they tried to press back to the other end.

Nonetheless, the schoolboys had energy and determination, so, as TCOB began to slow, the visitor's raids into their half became more frequent and accurate.

Lee Moir had one chance when left alone with the PNBHS keeper, but his back-hand shot went wide and the schoolboys immediately swept back onto the attack.

A push in the box meant TCOB goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was left alone for the visitor's penalty attempt, but Thomas dove the right way to make a stunning save and keep his team alive with the clock running down.

Now having to run it back from their own half, TCOB had a couple of chances with Ryan Gray probing down the far side, but it seemed the home team could only hope to hang on as the Manawatu teenagers kept the tempo up.

However, working forward off a couple of penalties, TCOB got the ball ricocheting in front of the PNBHS goal and found the back wood, only for the umpire to call that it had come off an attacker's foot right before the final shot.

Coach Russell Burgess said he was pleased with the squad's unity and communication as they were going up against a well drilled and fit side.

"We had a couple of opportunities in that first half. That intensity - it was good to see that for a change.

TCOB will play Marist at 3pm at Gonville on Saturday.