Senior Trial Rego
Mixed Result for HB Seniors at Central League Opener 15 May 2012
Hawke’s Bay Hockey Senior Women’s started their Central Hockey Campaign off with a very gutsy 3-2 win over Manawatu yesterday.
Manawatu scored early in the game to take a 1-0 lead. HB looked like a team that hadn’t been together very long as they spent the early part of the game getting use to each other in a relatively new look team, but as the game progressed they grew in confidence and strength and were rewarded by scoring two quick goals to go into the half time break with a 2-1 lead.
The second half was much the same as the first half with Manawatu scoring first and putting the HB Women under a lot of pressure for the majority of the second half. The HB Women scored the game winner half way through the second half and managed to hold out for the remainder of the game.
There were certainly some shaky moments throughout the game but you can’t knock the effort that the players put in.
This sets us up nicely for the remainder of the CHL. The HB Women have a bye this week and then play Wanganui on the 29th at home in Napier.
The Senior Men’s game, also against Manawatu, was always going to be a tough first-up fixture. A couple of players pulling out last minute on the day and sickness meant that a high workload was required from all who played.
Hawke’s Bay Men struggled throughout the match but fought hard and never gave up, eventually going down 10-1 to a much fitter and skilful Manawatu side that did the basics very well and deserved the 3 points.
The third round will be played at Park Island on Sunday 29 April and will be a good opportunity for Hawke’s Bay people to see a provincial level competition with both Hawke’s Bay teams in action against Wanganui.
Wins for Both our Senior Teams at the Weekend 29 April 2012
Both our Senior Women and Senior Men won their games against Wanganui in the third round of the Central Hockey League played in Napier on Sunday.
Hawke’s Bay Senior Women came away with a hard fought win after being tied 1-1 for most of the game.
HB set the standard early in the game with some high paced hockey to take a 1-0 lead after some quick passing and a tip in on the post in the 2nd minute. The HB Women looked like scoring again two minutes later but couldn’t find a striker to put the ball in the back of the net. Even though HB had all the possession throughout the first half they could not extend their lead and quite a few chances went begging as the HB women struggled to connect the final pass.
Late in the 1st half Wanganui were awarded a penalty corner in a rear visit into the HB half and converted it with a great straight hit from their striker.
The second half was much the same as the first half, with the Hawke’s Bay women putting Wanganui under a lot of pressure with the speed of the game they played. Throughout the game the HB midfield and back four worked really hard to eliminate any threat that came into their half. The Wanganui defence finally cracked halfway through the 2nd half and HB put in four unanswered goals to win 5-1.
Wanganui certainly worked hard to stay in the game as long as they did after having a goal scored against them so early on. Player of the day went to Lynda Coldicut, her work rate on and off the ball was of a very high standard.
The Senior Men also played Wanganui on Sunday. It was a fine display of how the older, more experienced heads and younger, less experienced but fitter players, can work successfully in a team together.
It was a tightly fought match with both teams creating chances and enjoying good spells of position throughout.
Hawke’s Bay started to dominate and find form in the second half, with some solid, well-structured defence and great attacking passing moves leading to four goals. Hawke’s Bay were the winners 6-1.
Both the Hawke’s Bay Senior teams travel to Levin to play Taranaki in three weeks time (20th May) in the last round robin game.
