My Account
Shar Illingworth
Connor Jollivet, front left, and Shayne Dawson, centre.
Alec Mcnaught, centre in purple.
The Warkworth Hockey Club men’s team is aiming for its first championship win this season.
As the second round robin begins at the North Harbour Hockey competition, the team has climbed to the top of the standings tables.
In its first match of the round, it defeated rivals Takapuna Black 2-1.
During the match, Takapuna took an early lead, having 1-0 on the board at half time. In the second half, Warkworth had a goal disallowed, but player Grant Hamilton was undeterred, and scored two further goals, tipping the match.
“One of the goals was off a penalty stroke awarded to Warkworth. It was the most botched stroke in history, but it worked out,” player Graham Buchs says.
In its first year as a club, the Warkworth men’s team took fourth in the championship, and then in its second year, took third, in addition to winning the final’s day round.
Buchs says this year the team is aiming to win the championship and finals in order to be promoted from division one to premiere three.
Meanwhile, the women’s team has been playing in division one after being promoted this season.
Captain Donna Hamilton says it has proven to be a fitting challenge for the team, which is now in the middle of the standings table.
“Winning every game is great, but it has been nice having to work for it this season.”
She says the team is aiming to make the top four by the end of the third round in order to have a shot at winning the championship.
This season, five matches were scheduled to be played in Warkworth instead of at Harbour Hockey in Albany – a privilege extended only to the Warkworth Club.
Hamilton says it has been great for promoting the game locally and allowing supporters to attend matches.
Upcoming home games include Sunday, July 18, versus East Coast Bays, and Sunday, August 8, versus Takapuna Black and East Coast Bays White. Matches start at 1pm and 3pm.
