The Dunedin premier hockey season winds up today, with both the City Highlanders and Taieri Tuataras bidding to defend their titles.
The City Highlanders will go first, taking on the old enemy Momona yet again. After a slowish start to the season, the three-time defending champions have really warmed up since the university break and will head in as favourites.
They thrashed the Kings United Royals 5-1 in the qualifier last weekend, and prior to that they beat Momona twice in two days at the start of the month. Everything points to them walking away with the trophy again.
In Hayley Cox, they have arguably the competition’s form player, whilst Pippa Croft has been rock solid between the sticks.
Momona will be no pushover, with their experience at this time of the year showing over the past week. Having taken the scenic route, they held the University Huskies at arm’s length before bludgeoning Kings on Wednesday. It was not pretty, but the brute power from their strike line showed.
Sorrell Shand and Louisa Kotkamp both got on the score sheet in that win, and they will be the most likely routes to a Momona win today. They are certainly right in the fight.
It is unfamiliar territory for the Taieri Tuataras, as they head into the big dance with the underdog tag. They might be the defending champions, but they lost in the qualifier to Albany, before sneaking past the Kings United Cobras on Wednesday to keep their season alive.
That came at a cost though, with plenty if energy expended, and an serious injury to Hamish Church now leaving them with a very young side, particularly at the back. Baxter Meder and Zeke Buschl’s defensive partnership will be key, as Albany again look to flame them down the flanks.
Whisper it quietly, but Albany are the favourites for this one. The men in red have not been keen on the tag, but they were far too good for Taieri last weekend, and there is nothing to suggest it will not be the same again.
Hamish Davenport and Nick Parata caused all sorts of problems down the right edge in the 2-0 win that got them to the big dance, and you fancy that they will look to attack down there again.
If they can, Albany might just win the title for the first time since 2014.
- By Nicholas Friedlander
