Rotorua Aces continue their pursuit of fifth title | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

 

CLUB HOCKEY

by Alison King sport@dailypost.co.nz Take four original members, throw in some youth and mix it up with intuition and you end up with five unanswered goals from the Rotorua Aces women's team.

The Midland Intercity side - Rotorua's only women's side in the competition - dominated at Smallbone Park on Saturday, outplaying the struggling bottom-of-the-table Thames Valley.

Aces went into the match second on the points table, with 15 goals from four games and finished the day top of the table after Waikato University suffered a rare defeat.

It was their net-finding that was their strength with four goals from general play and one penalty. Mihi Waaka top-scored with two - the first after 25 minutes, and the last, the penalty after a Thames Valley defender came over the top of an attacking Aces player and prevented a goal from being scored.

The fact goalkeeper Tina Bethell touched the ball only once in play showed how much the Aces dominated, keeping the ball, with the defence acting swiftly to upset any Valley attack.

"I think it was a very solid game," captain Pirihita Rangitauira said.

"We can't get together to train as an entire team week in week out but we can still get our combinations going.

"We've got a good solid defence, a lot of experience at the back and that helps our forwards.

"A highlight for me was our team knew where our players were."

Rangitauira, along with sister Parekura Rangitauira, Aroha Thompson and defender Jan McIndoe, are the four original members of the side that's been together for 19 years. They were started by the Rangitauira sisters along with two aunties and hockey-playing friends.

Thompson said they were used to playing together and had developed an intuition on the field.

They started out in the Midland Intercity League in 1995, suffering humiliating defeats "like 16-0", before maturing into a team that has since won the title four times. They want to make 2010 the fifth and are on the right track with an unbeaten record.

"I play out of habit," Thompson said.

"It can take it out of you as you get older. I do it while I can still run around."

The Aces are now featuring the daughters of previous players. Donna Keaney's daughters Lauren and Hannah both lined up on Saturday creating goal-scoring opportunities and intercepting Thames Valley passes.

"We've known the Keaneys since they were born," Thompson said.

"They've moved from spectators to players. We have familiarity on our team - we've played with each other for so long."

Aces were 2-0 up at halftime after goals from Waaka and Renee Ngatai. A flurry of second-half attacks led to goals in swift succession from Okeroa Douglas, Harina Wright and a penalty from Waaka to finish 5-0.

Meanwhile Rotorua Indians suffered a 4-1 defeat away to Suburbs Piako on Saturday.

Team spokesman Dipak Dheda said the score didn't reflect the match with a disallowed Indians goal for a foot in the circle.

 "It was a tight game and the score doesn't tell the full story. It could have been anybody's. There was a debatable penalty just before half-time and it was very even in the second half."

Rotorua Aces men's team won 3-0 away to Kohekohe at Pukekohe.

Midlands Intercity Hockey results from May 22 round:

Premier Men: Pukekohe Indians 3 Mt Maunganui 1, Tauranga Old Boys 3 Onewhero-Pukekohe 3, Thames Valley 3 Waikato University 2, Fraser Tech 9 Te Awamutu 1, Rotorua Aces 3 Kohekohe 0, Suburbs Piako 4 Rotorua Indians 1, Hamilton Old Boys 3 Varsity Reserves 2. Otumoetai had the bye. Premier Women: Otumoetai 6 Hamilton Old Girls 1, Onewhero Pukekohe 5 Waikato University 1, Rotorua Aces 5 Thames Valley 0, Fraser Tech 3 Te Awamutu 1.