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Hockey teens do battle with Nelson rivals
Marlborough’s teenage hockey talent came up against their Nelson counterparts at College Park recently, with two trophies at stake.
In the first game, a close battle ensued when the respective under-18 girls’ vied for the Dodson Cup. Marlborough scored first, through a penalty corner variation, slammed into the Nelson net by Shani Tilbury. However, by halftime the visitors had drawn level as play transi tioned quickly from end to end.
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Marlborough led into the final quarter, courtesy of a penalty stroke expertly taken by Maddie Large, but the visitors fought to the end scoring the equaliser in a goalmouth scramble with less than two minutes on the clock. Marlborough forced seven penalty corners in the match to Nelson’s five, a draw probably a fair reflection of the match momentum. The trophy stayed with Nel- under-18 team in the afternoon, plus one from Kaikoura, 10 from Nelson and two from the West Coast.
Mya Gane, Maddie Large, Millie Large, Georgia Marfell, Maia Rasmussen and Grace Calder were Marlborough players named in the 18-strong team to attend the national tournament in Auckland in July. Amber Fissenden was named as a non-travelling competition, which culminates in semi-finals on August 9, followed by a final on August 16.
Nick Beattie, who, along with Jimmy Giles and QCC deputy principal Campbell Hart, coaches the side, is excited by their potential.
“We have got a good mix,” he said. “We have some players who have played before, plus a group of younger kids coming up as well.
“There is a wide range of skills through the squad and the girls are pretty committed …. we have been training since January so they are putting in the effort and I’m pretty confident we can put together some decent results,” Nick added.
The QCC squad: Ilah Beattie, Ashlee Forsyth, Isha Jones, Atallaya Marsters-Kupa, Kahurau Reweti, Kara Beattie, Luisa Fuiava-Raj, Tiara Lambert, Eden McLeod, Terehia Reweti, Erika Calthorpe, Livvy Giles, Navara Love, Alofa Moorhouse, Marara Shelford, Letitia Calthorpe, Kayla-Rose Hebberd, Carlia Love, Indiana Myles, Heriata Simmonds, Tiana Childs, Harley Huntley, Aliyah MacDonald-Pedersen, Jessica Myles, Sky Eathorne, Matewai, Jones, Siena Manawatu, Tini Whetu Poutapu. Coach Nick Beattie; assistants: Jimmy Giles, Campbell Hart.
