Three provincial hockey trophies reclaimed

On Sunday morning all four of the inter-provincial hockey trophies were in Nelson hands.

By 4pm, three of them were back in Marlborough’s possession.

The annual senior representative exchange was played out at the Puna Wai Stadium, men’s and women’s A and B sides doing battle for both provincial pride and silverware.

As always, clashes between the two rival provinces were hard-fought and close.

First up, Marlborough took out both the B games 3-2, the men fighting back from a 2-0 deficit to win back the Wyn Robinson Cup, while the women reclaimed the Russell Trophy.

Then it was on to the A teams, the local women losing 2-1 while the men prevailed 3-1.

The women’s match was a tight affair, a Jess Kelly goal giving the visitors the lead after just five minutes. However, Emily Wallace was on hand to level the scores in the first quarter as play transitioned rapidly up and down the turf, both sides creating numerous opportunities to move ahead.

However, the scores remain level until the 58^th minute when Sophie White forced the ball into the Marlborough goal to the delight of the travelling supporters.

A desperate Marlborough side created one final attack and they came within inches of an equaliser, an unstoppable shot crashing into the frame of the goal and the rebound being desperately scrambled clear. But that was as good as it got for the home side as time ran out soon after, leaving the Ken Beach Cup in Nelson’s hands for another year.

The men’s game followed and proved to be another fast-flowing affair.

The home side looked dangerous throughout, stringing together accurate passes which their eager forwards made the most of. An early goal to Liam Harcus gave then the upper hand, but it was cancelled out when Nelson’s Jack Sutherland scored three minutes before halftime.

However, two minutes later, Jared Buckley ran onto a superb through ball to score, giving Marlborough a well-earned 2-1 lead at the break, an advantage they increased to 3-1 straight after oranges, Ed Enerson converting from close range.

Nelson continued to press forward but Marlborough's defence, marshalled by experienced operators Grant McMillan, Hugh Hendrickson and David Mehlhopt, made sure there was to be no late comeback from the visitors.

A feature of the senior games was the introduction of several youngsters, both MGC and MBC players, into both the men’s and women’s teams, their efforts suggesting hockey in the region is in good hands.