Hockey one, hockey two ... hockey 2021

Marlborough hockey have a wide range of activities planned to kick start a busy 2021 winter season.

First up is a Holiday Skills Clinic on April 28-30 with Matt Hair from Spire Hockey. Registrations for this event are still open.

This is followed by a senior Open Day on May 1. This event offers a chance for college and club players to get their teams organised and to have a hit out together. Twenty-minute games will be organised for college and division one players, full-length games for premier players.

On the next day, Sunday, May 2, an Opening Festival Day is scheduled for the younger brigade.

A variety of activities are planned throughout the day, catering for several different age groups. In attendance will be Black Sticks players George Connell and Joseph Bartholomew. Connell is a defender from Canterbury who is featuring in the North v South series while Bartholomew is a North Harbour defender with 39 international caps.

First up at the College Park turf will be the beginners, a Fun Sticks session planned for 9.30am-10.30am. Year 3-4 and 5-6 students will take part in a skills session from 10.45am-11.45am, year 7-8 players becoming the focus from 12pm-1pm. From 1.30pm-2.30pm a skills session for secondary school students will be on the agenda, followed by a 2.30pm-3.30pm session for First XI players.

To help Hockey Marlborough plan the groups, players are asked to register at https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/164158

Then it is on to the competitions.

The year 7-8 competition starts on May 5 and will be contested by 14 teams. It will be played in a six-a-side format in line with Hockey NZ guidelines.

The Fun Sticks grade hits off on May 8. This grade is aimed at new entrants to the sport and is designed to allow the younger brigade to have fun, play, learn, explore and make new friends.

The year 3-4 competition starts on May 10 with 16 teams in action, while the year 5-6 games begin on May 11, involving 18 teams.

The College grade begins on Thursday May 6. Games are played from 3.45pm until 7.30pm. Six teams will take part - Kaikoura, MBC 2nd XI, MGC 2nd XI, Arotea, Richmond View and a Year 8 side.

The division one competition will involve six teams - Beawai women, Beawai Masters, Arotea Kiwi women, Awatere, Leavers and MGC 1^st XI.

Four sides will contest the premier grade, which will be played on Saturdays, namely Beawai, Arotea, United and MBC 1st XI.

The Super League round scheduled for April 25 was cancelled due to low numbers. The next round is planned for Greymouth on June 6.