Tasman hockey teams off to flying start

Both Tasman teams at the Ford National Hockey Championships, which began in Hamilton on Sunday, have made a winning start.

The women’s side opened their tier two campaign on Sunday against Wairarapa, coming away with a 3-2 victory. Skipper Rebecca Kersten, Pip Lunn and Ruby Evans scored Tasman’s goals, all in the third quarter, and although Wairarapa bagged a double in the final quarter Tasman held on to clinch a vital victory.

Today the Tigers took on Taranaki and prevailed 4-2. Sisters Stacey Lloyd and Pip Lunn, plus Veronica Hardman, scored in the opening quarter, with Mickayla Sweetman adding their fourth in the second stanza. Lunn scored from a PC, their first penalty corner goal so far. Taranaki picked up two goals later in the match but were unable to prevent the southern side making a perfect start. The women have a day off tomorrow.

The Tasman men, also in tier two, notched an opening 1-0 win over South Canterbury, Ollie King scoring the decisive goal in the first quarter.

Today they took on Otago and came away with a 2-1 victory. Sam Fitzgerald scored their first from a penalty corner after just 11 minutes, then Eli Kepes added a field goal in the third quarter. Otago bagged a consolation from a PC but could not stop Tasman making it two-from-two. The men play North Harbour tomorrow.