Vaughan Hilton reporting for Waikato Hockey:
In a must win game for Ecolab Te Awamutu vs CKL Suburbs they gained the perfect start scoring within 10 seconds of the start when their prolific goal scorer Ben Coxhead grabbed the early initiative. Suburbs, fresh off their first win last week stormed back into the match notching five unanswered first half goals and four more in a lop sided second half display. Chris Harding led the way for Suburbs nabbing a hat trick whilst Aaron Barnsdall, Daniel Scanlon, and Michael Atkin all grabbed two apiece in their 9-1 rout. The win sees Suburbs secure the fourth available semi final spot to be played against top seeds Fraser Tech in a fortnight due to deferments of Premier games with the National U21 hockey finishing next Saturday.
Fraser Tech, although without the services of 6 U21 players and goal keeper Craig Armstrong still proved too strong for a willing Admore Promotions University side. Tech struggled for combinations and finishing with a scrambling University defense making them work harder than expected. Luke Sinclair broke the deadlock with a well taken field goal and brother Matt Sinclair extended Tech’s lead going into the break. The students came out with intensity in the second spell and early on reduced the deficit through Wade Guthrie. Tech finished the better rattling in four late goals to Jimmy Linehan, Elijah Graham Deane Bellis and Alec Wilson.
CBD University and Aber Hamilton Old Boys were also without their U21 stars for this round and the game never reached any great heights. University’s Nick Trebelcock and Old Boys Alex Wood traded first half goals but with both sides secure in the knowledge that they will play each other in the Semi finals they held back tactically as the game limped to a 1 all draw.
In a top of the table women’s clash Storage King University grabbed the initiative early on from second placed Fraser Tech White with Cat Pollock and Olivia Scotland both converting in the first 5 minutes. Jess Turner extended the title contenders advantage to three just before half time. Tech responded well after the break and after a period of controlled possession they reduced the deficit through Mary-Claire Funnell. Funnell’s joy was short lived when suffering a game stopping head injury requiring the services of a St John’s Ambulance. As the game had reached the 15 minute mark of the second half the 3-1 result stands with University retaining top spot on the table. The students will play Hamilton Old Girls in the semis after Old Girls wore down a resilient McWhannell Roofing Suburbs unit. The sides were locked up Nil all at the break with scoring opportunities at a premium. The game broke open in the second half after Toni Vicker’s converted a controversially awarded stroke and sealed the win when Renee Evan’s reacted quickly to a save from goalkeeper Debi Gallagher to slot in a close range rebound.
Tech Blue made it an all Tech Semi when holding on to defeat Ecolab Te Awamutu 1-0. Julia Ebert gave Tech the first half advantage but a spirited Te Awamutu through everything at Tech during an action filled second half. They were unlucky not to score when a shot hit the post and another chance from a Chayce Skudder reverse rebounded shot fell just out reach of two unmarked Te Awamutu strikers.