Wanganui Under 15's hammer opponents

Wanganui Under 15 captain Rebecca Baker scored three goals in the win over Manawatu B in Timaru.

Both the Wanganui Under 15 teams have made great starts to their national championship tournaments in the South Island by holding their opposition scoreless on Monday.

The Under 15 boys hammered Wellington 6-0 in Invercargill in heavy rain and gale conditions.

Coach Andrew Spence said every player delivered to their potential as Wellington were shocked to be trailing 5-0 at halftime.

"I expected them to be a strong team, we played them earlier in the season and beat them 3-0. 

"If they could play like that through the whole tournament, they'd be difficult to beat."

Captain Connor Hoskin scored a hat trick from a penalty corner and two field goals.

Wanganui will now play Canterbury on Tuesday and have their final pool game against West Coast, with the goal to make the Top 8 for the main quarterfinals.

Further back up the east coast of the island in Timaru, weather conditions were much better at the Under 15 girls national championship tournament, where the Wanganui girls defeated Manawatu B 4-0.

Wanganui scored two goals in each half, with captain Rebecca Baker getting a hat trick, while Georgia Matson got the fourth goal.

Coach Jan Dixon said it took a little while for the team to get sorted, but once they did everything clicked.

Unlike gale winds, her concern was trying to free the stuck boot in the team van so they could retrieve the team's shoes.

The Under 15 girls tournament has 23 teams, with Wanganui in a pool of six.

Their games on Tuesday are against Canterbury and Thames Valley.

By Jared Smith
Wanganui Chronicle 3/10/17