Masters of their game

Marlborough’s masters’ hockey players showed they can foot it with rivals nationwide, returning from the National Masters hockey tournament in Northland with several titles and, in some cases, national selection.

The annual event, held in the far north this year from February 23 to March 1, attracted players from across the country, teams competing in 15 age divisions, ranging upwards from 35+ to 70+.

Tasman teams competed in five divisions – women’s 35+, women’s 45+, women’s 50+, men’s 40+ and men’s 55+ - winning three of them.

Marlborough players featured in all three victorious combinations.

The Denise Lloyd-coached 35+ women went unbeaten, taking out their four preliminary matches then accounting for Wellington 6-2 in the final. In that side were Pip Lunn, Stacey Curry, Yvonne Boyd, Rosie Dowling, Millie Milton and Kate Morrow, the latter selected to represent NZ in the trans-Tasman series against Australia in Cairns in May. Pip Lunn was the top goal scorer in the grade with eight.

Three Marlburians, Jules Maltesen, Loren Hickin and Jo Jones, who also gained national selection, were in the Tasman women’s 45+ crew who also claimed gold. They went unbeaten, although it took a penalty shootout to decide the winner of a final against North Harbour which ended 2-2.

The other Tasman team to win gold was the men’s 55+ combination, including Marlborough’s Sandy O’Connell. They beat Wellington 2-1 in the final.

The Tasman men’s 40+ side, featuring Andrew Nation, plus Mike and Andrew Mitchell finished fourth, Mike Mitchell getting the nod for NZ selection.

Several Marlborough players were dotted among other teams.

Jo Campbell played for the seventh-placed Otago women’s 40+ crew while Rosie Lamain and Robyn Rowe turned out for the Denise-Lloyd-coached Otago women’s 55+ side, Rowe gaining NZ selection.

Nigel Fraser was part of the winning Tauranga men’s 60+ team, John MacKinnon played in the second-placed Wellington men’s 55+ side while Kelvin Read turned out for the Nelson men’s 65+ outfit, who finished fifth, all three making the cut for NZ teams.

Marlborough stalwart Jenny Hair was the umpire manager for the event.