It would have been keeping one eye on the chasing pack as it came up against one of those teams in Taieri Tigers. What followed was a fairly even contest, as most matches in the competition have been this season, although Momona emerged 2-0 victor. Momona was able to use the experience of its representative players to maintain a stranglehold on possession in the first half. Lydia Shirley and Mattise Uluilelata controlled things expertly for the reds.
Taieri relied on pushing Momona wide and fast counterattacks. Its back pairing of Louise Nicolson and Aoife Smyth snuffed out the Momona attacks. After having the better of the early chances with a couple of penalty corners with no luck, it was a piece of poor defence that cost the Tigers. Uluilelata was allowed to carry the ball some distance in the red zone, beating weak efforts at tackle with ease, and once in the circle she slammed the backboard to open the scoring.
Taieri thought it had one back through Sophie Allison at the other end but it was scrubbed out due to an earlier error.
Both teams knew the start of the second half would be crucial and Shirley was able to convert an early PC for Momona. For the second time a goal was contested, as Taieri believed the score should not have counted, but it was confirmed and despite another late flurry of chances for either side, 2-0 the match stayed.
Kings added its second win of the season 2-1 over Uni Black Stingrays, while another Tegan Buchanan brace helped leader City Highlanders beat Uni White Huskies 3-1.
- Matthew West
