U15s faring well at national champs - September 2015

The Wanganui Under-15 boys and girls hockey teams are faring well at their respective national age-group championships.

Playing in Wellington the Andrew Spence-coached boys side has won two from two to go into a match against South Canterbury today to determine the pool winner. In their first match Wanganui played hosts Wellington winning 7-0.

Spence said his side took some time to settle, however after 10 minutes the floodgates opened and the boys had scored five goals by half-time.

In the second half the opportunity was given to allow all players a run.

The Wanganui team at times played some sublime hockey, Spence said. Scorers were Tyler Nichol-Hilton (WHS), Jordan Cohen (WHS), Ethan Cohen (WHS) and Travis Bayler (WHS). Jimmi Blinkhorne (WHS) and Patrick Madder (WHS) scored two. Yesterday Wanganui expected to beat Southland and the boys duly obliged albeit a narrow 1-0 victory.

"Southland came out to play a very physical game that got under the boys' skin a bit, but we managed to compose ourselves to control the ball around," Spence said.

Ronan Spence (WHS) scored the only goal, while goalkeeper Zac Farmer was tested to save one serious shot thanks to team play and the defensive skills of fullback Lachlan James (WHS).

In Christchurch the Wanganui under-15 girls went down 5-0 to South Canterbury in their first game but bounced back with a 3-2 win over Central Otago.

Coach Jan Dixon said Rebecca Baker (WHS) played well scoring two goals while Garce Godfrey kicked in with a goal of her own.

"Those two girls had very good games as did Claudia Ryan, Imogen Burrows (WHS) and Jaz Manfield," Dixon said.