Hockey youngsters have chance to show their skills

Marlborough hosted the annual top of the south under-18 hockey tournament last week.

The historic Dodson and Stirling Cups were up for grabs with Marlborough, Nelson and West Coast combinations gathering at Puna Wai and College Park Stadiums on 9-10 May.

Topping the bill in the women’s section was the local combination. Marlborough beat West Coast and drew 1-1 with Nelson, claiming the Dodson Cup on countback. Both teams beat the Coasters, but Marlborough prevailed 4-0, while Nelson were held to a 3-1 margin.

This was the first time Marlborough, coached by Denise Lloyd and Steve Gibbons, had got their hands on the silverware since 2018.

The Marlborough U18 men also produced some highly competitive hockey, beating West Coast 10-1 then going down 3-2 to Stirling Cup winners Nelson. Nelson beat the Coasters 8-1.

The men were coached by Pip Herd and Reuben Kepes.

The Blenheim tournament also served as a trial for regional representation. At the conclusion of the event the Tasman Districts under-18 teams to contest the respective 2026 HNZ U18 National Tournaments, held in Palmerston North (women) and Tauranga (men), from July 5–11, were named.

Seven Marlborough-based players were included in the women’s team. They were Lizzie Gibbons, Libby Pitts, Hayley Sutherland, Katie Sutherland, Charlie Bennett, Charlotte Brooke-Taylor and Lauren Milne, from Kaikoura.

Tasman Districts U18 Women’s Team: Caroline Abran, Charlie Bennett, Charlotte Brooke-Taylor, Lizzie Gibbons, Erin Gleeson, Emira Hvaerkamp, Lauren Milne, Lucy Robinson, Hayley Sutherland, Libby Pitts, Mikayla Shaw, Jordan Simpson, Katie Sutherland, Molly Taylor, Alyssa Velluppillai, Nele Charlotte Rakowski (GK), Zana Simpson (GK). Coach: Atamira De Goldi Ling. Managers: Katrina Simpson and Anna Gleeson.

Five Marlborough-based men made the Tasman cut. They were Alex Herd, Logan Flight, goal keeper Harrison Fishburn, Ben Storey and Liam Harcus.

Tasman Districts U18 Men’s Team: Blake Sinclair, Josh Lovell, Kerwin Taylor, Leo Yianakis, Rupert Hammond, Thomas McLean, Ethan Jenkins, Hunter Andrews, Finlay Lawson (GK), Luke Jordan, Micah Dunn (Non‑Travelling Reserve), Liam Harcus, Alex Herd, Ben Storey, Logan Flight, Harrison Fishburn (GK), Zander Freitas, TK Freitas. Head Coach: Ryan Clements. Coach: Jorgen Kwinkelenberg. Manager: L. Freitas