Whanganui hockey girls on track for gold

Rebecca Baker is proving to be scoring machine for the Wanganui under 15 girls with hat-tricks on both days of competition at the nationals in Timaru.
PHOTO/Sandy Turner.

The Wanganui under 15 girls hockey team took a step closer to gold when they dispatched titleholders Canterbury 3-2 at the National U15 Hockey Championship in Timaru on Tuesday morning.

They then went out in the afternoon session and demolished Hawkes Bay 6-0.

Coach Jan Dixon praised her girls for not only handling the pressure of playing up to two games a day, but also for combining on the field to win against strong opposition.

"I'm surprised were were in the same pool as Canterbury actually. They only just beat us the final last year," Dixon said.

"But today we up early and had them immediately on the back foot to come away with a 3-2 win. All the girls are playing well."

Whanganui High School ace Rebecca Baker was again a star turn scoring all three of Wanganui's goals against Canterbury hot on the heels of a hat-trick during Monday's 4-0 drubbing of Manawatu B.

She then slotted two more against Hawkes Bay.

They tackle Thames Valley on Wednesday morning and victory will certainly cement a spot in the semi-finals if that has not already occurred.

If they top Pool A it will pit them against the third placed in Pool C in cross over play on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Wanganui under 15 boys had to amuse themselves all day yesterday before a late encounter with Canterbury at their nationals in Invercargill.

A nil-all draw means they need to win On Tuesday against West Coast to ensure them a spot in the quarter finals on Thursday.

Coach Andrew Spence was also happy with the performance of his team after smashing Wellington 6-zip on Monday.

By Iain Hyndman
Wanganui Chronicle 4/10/17