It was semifinals week in the Otago Hockey Association competitions and the premier women’s matches did not disappoint, as both games went right to the wire.
Momona defeated University 1-0 after a first-half penalty corner was converted by Lydia Shirley. The red and blacks were unable to strike again in the match, as University’s formidable defensive quartet held up and Momona never looked safe in its lead until the final whistle, as University pressed hard for a late equaliser.
In the other game, Southern Under-18s looked to be on for another upset as time ran down, holding on to a 1-0 lead, thanks to an Isabelle Becconsall-Ryan goal early in the match, until very close to the final whistle.
However, defending champion City Highlanders ensured that the 2017 final would be a rematch of the 2016 game, with two quick-fire goals in the last five minutes, from Alex Irwin and Lucy Harris.
The other scheduled match of the day was not played, as Southland defaulted the fifth-sixth playoff to Taieri and Kings and Uni B finishing seventh and eighth respectively to round out the grade.
The final will be played next weekend and Taieri will play West Taieri in the division two women’s final on the same day.
It was a resumption of normal service in the premier men’s competition on Saturday, as Uni A and Albany won their respective semifinals to lock in another meeting in a final next weekend.In the first match, a first half hat-trick to Kieran O’Connor and a Henry Will score right on half time was enough for Uni to put Taieri away.
Taieri scored first through Jeremy Smallridge and had the better of the first few minutes, but midway through the half the momentum swung and O’Connor converted two drag flicks and then a field goal in quick succession, followed by Will’s goal just before the break, which seemed to put the match beyond doubt.
Will and O’Connor each added another goal in the second half as Uni ran out a 6-1 winner.
The second semifinal was between Albany and last years champions King’s United. This match was an arm-wrestle the whole way through.
Albany side overcame its opponent with a goal in each half, for experienced campaigners Nathan Gilbert and Gabe Rawcliffe. King’s United also had chances to score, including two penalty strokes which are rarely not converted but Albany keeper Hamish Van Dyke stopped both of them.
The final score was 2-0, so a new champion will be found this season. Southland defaulted the fifth-sixth playoff to University B.
The final will be played next Saturday.In division two the same clubs will compete for that title, when Albany B and Uni C play off.
- Matthew West
