Vaughan Hilton reporting for Waikato Hockey:
Aber Hamilton Old Boy’s stunned title favourites Fraser Tech to take out the Championship title in sudden death extra time. In a match befitting the final both sides showed composure when with the ball and plenty of attacking enterprise. Old Boys had the better of the opening stanza and only a tight knit Tech defense held them scoreless. Tech gained parity in possession and territory and looked the more dangerous as the half wore on but a resilient Old Boys defense also thwarted goal scoring opportunities. Leo Wells broke the deadlock with a well taken field goal to give his Old Boys side a narrow half time advantage. Both sides showed more urgency on attack in the second spell and after a number of dangerous forays into the Old Boys circle Luke Coxhead drilled in a drag flicked PC conversion to level the scores. Goal keepers Craig Armstrong for Tech and Andrew Lock for Old Boys were called upon to pull off desperation saves from set pieces and as the game looked destined for extra time Leo Wells rifled in a stunning rising reverse shot to break the deadlock. The lead for Old Boys was short lived as an enterprising attack from the restart saw an unmarked Lloyd McLaughlin tap in from close range to level the scores. Old Boys had a last chance at sealing the win from a PC as the final whistle blew, but Armstrong was again up to the challenge, parrying away the drag flick from Gareth Nuzum. With both sides dropping two players for the first period sudden death, maintaining possession was paramount. The rain increased in intensity and the surface became stickier making possession hard to maintain with scoring opportunities at a premium. As the sides dropped a further two players the game opened up to allow Old Boy’s Josh Steel to nail home the winner for a deserved 3-2 win.
In the Women’s final, title favourites Storage King University made no race of the contest running away to a comprehensive 8-1 win. A depleted Fraser Tech White put up a solid showing in the initial stages but failed to capitalise on early opportunities. The students had the best opportunity through Cat Pollock when awarded a penalty stroke but were denied when well saved by Candy Hart in the Tech goal. Spurred on by her miss, Pollock cut the Tech defense in tatters to find an unmarked Emma Andrews to tap in and converted twice herself to gift her side a handy three goal advantage. Tech came back with a well worked attack for Acacia Kelsen to reduce the deficit before the break. Any chance of a second half comeback were quickly dismissed with Libby Bird bagging a hat trick for University, two from the field and one from a PC, Emma Andrews and Anna Pryde completed the scoring.
In the play offs for 3rd CKL Suburbs showed better ball control and composure to wear down the more fancied CBD University in a 3-2 win. The students led 2-1 at the break with Abir Mukherjee finding the net and both sides conceding an own goal. Matt Luxford leveled the score and Michael Atkin providing the winning goal for Suburbs. Coach Truman Wee suggests his sides off ball fearless commitment and an improvement in set pieces may see them continue to push the top sides in the next round. In the women’s playoff Tech Blue held a narrow half time advantage through a Nicky O’Donnell conversion, but dominated the second spell with a brace to Shannon Cochrane and a goal to Julia Ebert to secure a 4-0 win. For 5th Admore Promotions University repeated their last week’s win over Ecolab Te Awamutu, this time by a 3-1 margin. Uni’s Laurens Steytler converted from the penalty spot with Ben Coxhead replying with a well taken field goal saw the sides’ level at the break. Nick Trebelcock and Russell Beales slotted late second half field goals as Te Awamutu’s defensive structure lapsed when searching for the win. Te Awamutu gained some consolation with their women’s side converting a goal in each half to Neeve and Maddi McLean repectively to down McWhannell Roofing Suburbs 2-0 for 5th spot.
