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1st XI Hockey | Super Eight | Tauranga

 
Picture of Ella Mitchell
1st XI Hockey | Super Eight | Tauranga
i le Ella Mitchell - Tuesday, 1 September 2020, 9:09 AM
 

1st XI Hockey | Super Eight | Tauranga 

Day One

The 1st XI Hockey team started their Super Eight campaign on Monday with a match against Hastings BHS. Both teams employed high pressing tactics in the opening quarter, which made it different for either side to maintain a significant share of possession.

Despite being under high pressure, PNBHS managed to fire an overhead behind the Hasting defence, allowing Blake Rhodes-Robinson to set up Zac Carline for the opener. PNBHS finished the quarter up one-nil. However, Malaki Masoe suffered a hand injury which meant PNBHS would have to adjust their defensive structure to pursue without him.

Zac Carline scored a tremendous solo goal midway through the second quarter which gave PNBHS some breathing room. Despite the scoreline, Hastings continued to press and were rewarded with a goal from a penalty corner.

Throughout the remainder of the second quarter and most of the third, Hastings managed to bully PNBHS in the midfield and started to look like equalising. However, PNBHS won a penalty corner towards the end of the quarter. Malaki Masoe had recently returned to the field and stepped up with a composed drag flick.

Leading 3-1 in the fourth quarter, PNBHS played with much more confidence and displayed the quality of hockey that has been typical of the season. They maintained composure throughout the fourth and held out for a 3-1 victory. Jay Ranchhod, Jamie Thompson and Zac Carline had great matches for the 1st XI.

The second match of the day was against Rotorua BHS. This was a one-sided affair with PNBHS strolling to a 7-0 victory.
Goal scorers were Perry Smith, Hael Pritchard (2), Matthew Dellow (2), Connor Managh, Zac Buinimasi.

Max O'Connor made his goalkeeping debut off the bench and made one spectacular stick save of a Rotorua penalty corner.