The Taieri Tigers nearly proved to be their own worst enemy but held their nerve in a 4-2 win over Kings United in the Dunedin premier women’s competition on Saturday.
Taieri was eager to chase the game to keep pace with the Huskies and City on the competition ladder.
The closest chance of the first quarter came through Lily Bentall, who shaped to give the Tigers the lead but her shot went just wide of the right-hand post.
There was another chance for Taieri early in the second quarter, and Kings did well to hang on despite being stranded inside its own half.
The game was scoreless at halftime.
The third quarter started with a hiss and a roar with two goals for Taieri, from Chantelle Murrell and Meg Vogel, as the Tigers finally converted some chances.
Louisa Collerton made it a three-goal advantage for Taieri with a shot from the edge of the circle that crept behind the Kings goalie’s clutches.
Taieri again created opportunities in the fourth quarter, notably when Meila Eades had an open goal in front of her but saw the ball roll away out of bounds.
Another Tigers chance was followed by a counterattack from Kings, and Lily-Mae Watt closed the margin to two goals with 7min remaining.
A barnstorming finish loomed when Maddie Peel also scored for Kings, leaving the Tigers clinging to a 3-2 lead.
Taieri had two more penalty corners, and the second was converted by Anna Boult for the win.
The Tigers were able to breathe but would reflect on their inability to put the game away earlier, while Kings was left wondering what might have been had more genuine scoring opportunities been created.
In the University women’s showdown, the Huskies earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Stingrays. A goal in the third quarter by Isobella Ng was the defining moment.
City kept the Challenge Shield with a 1-0 win over Momona, which only had 10 players. Morgan Forrester provided the only goal.
Taieri kept its stranglehold on the men’s competition with a 13-0 rout of the University Black Panthers.
James Nicholson fired in four goals, Matt West scored a hat-trick, Jordan Ward had a double and there was a goal each for Matthew Deller, Brendan Peat and Finn Ward.
The University Blue Whales beat Albany 3-1. A Jakob Bell-Kake double and a goal to Henry Will inspired the Whales, while Sam Young scored the only goal for Albany.
- Jack Ward
