TARANAKI HOCKEY
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12 September 2005

Men's Senior Championship Finals

The men's final lived up to its billing as a tough open game of hockey and while Stratford took out the title 2-0, Te Kiri would be counting themselves as very unlucky not to make the contest much closer on the score sheet. Apart from a simultaneous brain explosion by two players near the end of the game that resulted in red cards being issued, the game had much to commend it. Stratford's structured possession game was contrasted against Te Kiri's more fluid attacking style with fast counter attacks. Te Kiri worked very hard in the opening quarter of the game to shut down Grant Boyde, and Lloyd Morgan man to man marked the Stratford striker diligently. As a result Stratford did not get the clear cut field goal opportunities that they were probably looking for. However, after 15 minutes they took the lead through a penalty corner strike by Boyde. Soon after Te Kiri failed to adequately clear the ball from a penalty corner and Brett Thomas found the far post to make it 2-0. Te Kiri meanwhile were creating their own opportunities, primarily from free hits outside the circle and at penalty corners. From one free hit Rhys Armstrong found Cameron Ardern on the left hand post, but he was unable to guide the ball home, and shortly after a cross deflected off Ardern's stick at close range but managed to loop over the goal Te Kiri were well in it in the second half. Both sides managed to create space and opportunities, with Te Kiri managing to force a succession of penalty corners. Their lack of variation however made them easier to defend, and Alistiar Lilley made some good saves on the ground in the Stratford goal. Neil Vince went close with a deflection for Te Kiri while at the other end a shot from Grant Boyde was pushed wide by Bruce Colgan in the Te Kiri goal and cannoned off the post. With 8 minutes to go, a clash between Cameron Ardern and Shaun Darth saw both players presented with a red card, reducing both sides to ten men for the balance of the game. Te Kiri piled on the pressure and despite forcing a string of penalty corners the Stratford defence held out. For Te Kiri, Lloyd Morgan and Ross Gatenby had stand out games in defence, and Philip Gargan worked hard in the midfield to distribute ball. For Stratford, Paul Williams had his usual strong game at centre half.

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