Vaughan Hilton reporting for Waikato Hockey:
CBD University secured top spot for the semi finals when downing Aber Old Boy’s 4-1 to set up a rematch next week. Old Boy’s, missing a raft of first string players, most of whom will be competing for HBHS at the top tiered National Secondary Schoolboy’s Rankin Cup tournament in Wellington, competed well for most of a tight first half. University opened the scoring with an accurate high drag flicked PC to Tu Hapi after 15 minutes but Jamie Kane responded in kind with a low drag minutes later to lock up the scores. With the students requiring a win to stay at the top of the standings they upped the tempo in the second stanza with Kyle Ostenfeld rifling in a reverse shot after an excellent solo run by Matt Rees-Gibbs. Rees-Gibbs capped off an excellent all round game converting the students third after another carving run through the midfield and Nick Trebilcock completed the scoring.
CBK Suburbs had to bounce back from a one goal deficit against Admore Promotions University at half time to secure second place after the round robin. Jury Herewini converted a second half hat trick, Michael Atkin a brace, with Michael Scanlon also scoring to complete the 6-2 win for Suburbs. Wade Guthrie and Matt Libby both scored for the students. The win sees Suburbs secure 2nd spot and face third placed Fraser Tech in next week’s semi finals.
Tech ripped apart Ecolab Te Awamutu 9-1 in a one-sided romp. Leading 5-1 at the break Tech rattled in a further three goals in the opening five minutes of the second half. Zac Woods and Tim Seifert both secured hat tricks, two own goals and a Kendal Nolan strike completed Tech’s scoring in what could have been a double digit win. Te Awamutu competed better defensively once Tech diverted from their excellent passing game with a first half conversion to Ben Scarlet their only consolation.
In Women’s matches Hamilton Old Girls had a semi’s spot at stake against a vastly improved McWhannell Roofing Suburbs. In an evenly contested opening half Suburbs striker Shiree Henderson and Old Girls Karen Barlow traded goals. Clarissa Eshuis broke the deadlock midway through the second spell with a rifling reverse strike. Eshuis turned provider in the game deciding goal delivering a pinpoint accurate cross to Julena Phillips who deftly deflected the cross into the roof of the goal. Although Old Girls rallied well in search of goals the defensive structure of Suburbs held firm for a 3-1 victory.
Old Girls’ loss kept them nervously watching the last match of the day between Fraser Tech and Ecolab Te Awamutu with a win needed by Te Awamutu to oust Old Girls from the semi finals. Te Awamutu started well with back to back goals midway through the first half to Kelly Rawlingson and Kate Williamson. Midlands NHL standout Kate Kernaghan grabbed one back for Tech minutes later to keep the game in the balance. Tech showed greater commitment against a depleted Te Awamutu unit and ground out a 3-2 win with second half conversions to Acacia Kelsen and Kernaghan. The loss see’s Te Awamutu’s season over whilst Tech will now play Suburbs and Old Girls will play top seeds Storage King University in the semi finals next weekend.