Vs Pukekohe High School: Monday 1 September
MAGS started strongly and did not give Pukekohe HS the chance
to settle into their game, which upset them early and this gave
the MAGS team time to settle into their game plan dominating the
midfield and putting the opposition defence under pressure.
Within the first three minutes, Scott Lunn finished off an
excellent attack and tipped the ball into the goal after an
excellent pass came in from the left flank. Although, the rest of
the first half saw MAGS have a
couple of good opportunities to score again, the ball just
seemed to elude the forward line sticks.
Half time score: 1-0 MAGS
It was critical not to allow Pukekohe back into the game. The defence held strong particularly for a patch of about 15 minutes when MAGS could not break out of their defensive 22m, and it seemed like wave after wave of attack came from the Pukekohe HS forward line. Goalkeeper, Thomas Guy, and his defensive team mates kept the goal clean with some excellent team work and penalty corner clearances. Eighteen minutes into the second half, Nick Colling sealed the game with another excellent tip into the goal after the right inside, Jared Panchia, sent an excellent weighted pass out to Scott Lunn who centred the ball for Nick to get past the goalkeeper and into the goal. Although, Pukekohe had a couple of late chances to score, the MAGS team were dogged in their defence and played smart hockey towards the end of the game. A very good opening game particularly as we knew Pukekohe HS were the pre-game favourites because they had finished 6th in the Intercity competition and we had only finished 11th. It was great to have the Headmaster, Sports Director, Head Boy and so many parents and past 1st XI players supporting the team.
Full time score: WIN 2-0
Player of the Match: Jared Panchia
Goalscorers:
Scott Lunn, Nick Colling
Vs Western Heights High School: Tuesday 2 September
An early, 5.45am start to the day, due to the 8.00am
game. MAGS started well and within five minutes, right half,
Miten Patel had sent an excellent pass into the attacking goal
for Troy Martin, playing at left inside and positioned perfectly
on the far post to stretch and pop into the goal. Spencer McGarry
finished off an excellent move started by captain, Matthew
Cranston, who sent a good pass into the circle to Nick Colling
who popped a pass to Spencer to slot the ball into the back of
the net. Complacency set in and Western Heights came back late in
the first half with a good penalty corner goal.
Half time: 2-1 MAGS
Western Heights had the better of the second half and scored a penalty corner goal after seven minutes and a field goal after 15 minutes to be ahead on the scoreboard 3-2. MAGS were under pressure and Spencer McGarry scored a field goal to level the scores after 19 minutes. It was end-to-end hockey with neither team wanting to lose. Spencer McGarry scored his third goal to complete his hat trick with just two minutes to go before full time. The final minutes of the game, MAGS regained their composure and played smart tournament hockey as the clock counted down. This was a Houdini act and a very close call.
Final score: 4-3 WIN
Player of the Day: Spencer McGarry
Goal scorers:
Troy Martin, Spencer McGarry
(3)
Vs Hastings Boys High School
At 1.30pm we were back on the turf playing the second
game of the day. We knew this was going to be our hardest game of
pool play and that?s how it turned out. Hastings BHS scored
first from a penalty corner eight minutes into the game. The
opposition had wave after wave of attacks including a penalty
corner shot on goal that hit the crossbar. MAGS were unable to
capitalize on the few opportunities that came their way in the
first half.
Half time score: 0-1 Hastings BHS
The game seesawed for much of the second half, however the Hastings defence was too strong and repelled each of the MAGS attacks. They scored a field goal late in the second half, which put the game out of reach for the MAGS team. The result meant we finished second in Pool D and would meet Hutt Valley High School in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Full time score: 0-2 Loss
Player of the match: Troy Martin
Vs Hutt Valley High School: Wednesday 3
September
A very determined team effort would be required to shut
down the very strong centre forward from Hutt Valley HS.
Unfortunately, early in the first half Right Back, Daniel Panchia
took a heavy fall after a clash with a Hutt Valley player and
left the field with what turned out to be a broken bone in his
hand/wrist and will mean that he will be out for the remainder of
the tournament. This unsettled the MAGS team and Hutt Valley took
the advantage scoring two penalty corner goals from well-executed
drag flicks. Matthew Cranston converted an excellent penalty
corner goal late in the first half.
Half time score: 1-2 Hutt Valley HS
Hutt Valley started strongly and scored three further field goals in the first, ninth and 14th minutes. Jared Panchia scored a consolation goal late in the second half and although the score line would suggest a very one-sided game, the MAGS team played their best game of the tournament and was unlucky to meet Hutt Valley in the quarterfinals. Captain, Matthew Cranston led by example with positive on field comments of encouragement throughout the game. We now play for 5-8 positions in the tournament and play Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata at 12 noon tomorrow.
Full time score: 2-5 Loss
Player of the Match: Matthew Cranston
Goal scorers:
Matthew Cranston, Jared Panchia
Vs Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata: Thursday 4
September
A win today would mean we would be playing off for 5th
and 6th place tomorrow, so the MAGS team tried desperately to get
an early advantage. It seemed shot after shot goal wards went
everywhere except into the back of the net. Ruamata had chances
too that went unconverted.
Half time score: 0-0
A stern halftime talk did get the team working more cohesively, however it was Ruamata who were the first to break the deadlock with a field goal after three minutes. Goal scoring opportunity after goal scoring opportunity went astray until eleven minutes into the second half when Troy Martin finally got the MAGS team onto the scorecard with a good field goal. Penalty strokes looked a certain way of deciding who would win and who would lose, although MAGS dominated most of the last quarter of the game they just couldn?t finish off their attacking moves. Jared Panchia stepped up and produced some excellent individual skills and great passes to the strike forwards along with Matthew Cranston. Right Half, Miten Patel played his best game in the second half. Tired legs certainly showed in the later stages of the game and with just three minutes to spare, Spencer McGarry managed to slot the ball into the back of the net to put MAGS ahead. A physically, exhausting game for the MAGS team who were lucky to get the win before the full time whistle blew. The team missed Right Back, Daniel Panchia, who was in the dugout, sporting a plaster cast on his right arm after yesterdays fall during the game.
Full time score: 2-1 WIN
Player of the match: Jared Panchia
Goal scorers: Troy Martin, Spencer McGarry
Our final game is against Hastings Boys High School at
11.30am.
Congratulations to the MAGS umpire, Bruce Long, who has been
named to umpire the final tomorrow.
Vs Hastings Boys High School: Friday 5 September
This was the second time we had played Hastings during the
tournament and the MAGS team was determined not to allow their
goal scorer the same space they had on Tuesday afternoon when
they had lost 0-2. Both teams struggled to get on top of the
other team and it was not until the final two minutes of the
first half that the goals were scored. MAGS took the ball down
the right flank, started by Matthew Cranston and then Jared
Panchia sent a perfectly
weighted ball into the circle and Spencer McGarry was on hand to
slot the ball into the back of the net. As is often the case,
Hastings responded less than a minute later with a penalty corner
goal being scored in the dying stages of the half.
Half time score: 1-1
MAGS had played some excellent hockey throughout the first
half, shutting down their playmakers and the Hastings team were
getting frustrated. Both teams struggled to come to terms with
the umpiring decisions, which did spoil the spectacle of the
game. Hastings scored early in the second half with a field goal
after only three minutes. MAGS defended bravely and had raid
after raid into the Hastings circle but failed to slot the ball
into the goal. Jared Panchia slotted away an equalizing goal from
a penalty corner after 17 minutes, which was a fine reward after
having a number of earlier attempts not on target. Both teams
then tried to get the winning goal and MAGS had to step up and
defend bravely when two late penalty corners were awarded to the
Hastings Boys High School team. Goalkeeper, Thomas Guy, made an
excellent save on the last penalty corner and the game produced a
far better
second half performance by the defensive team of: Thomas
Guy, Sachin and Rasik
Makan, Sye Jones, Miten Patel and Matthew Cranston. The game
ended up being drawn, so the MAGS team finished the Mayhill Cup
Tournament in 5th= place. Matthew Parish, who was injured during
the previous day?s game has a broken bone in the base of his
thumb/hand and joined Daniel Panchia on the injured list for the
game. Both players will return to school next week in
plaster!
Matthew Cranston led the team with passion and enthusiasm throughout the week, playing with a knee injury, however he did not miss one minute of play throughout the six games.
Full time score: 2-2 Draw
Player of the Match: Miten Patel
Goal scorers: Spencer McGarry, Jared Panchia
MAGS MVP Tournament: Mathew Cranston
STOP PRESS: Matthew Cranston?s club team, Somerville has won the Premier Reserve grade competition on Sunday 7 September beating Western 6-1. Congratulations, Matthew!
Photos of the playoff for 5th and 6th courtesy of Roger McGarry vs Hastings Boys High School
