Oliver Bunny, outstanding effort for Dalefield. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
HOCKEY
Gary Caffell
Dalefield targeted a bonus point win in their Wellington premier division men’s hockey match with Kapiti at Paraparaumu on Saturday and achieved their objective with a comfortable 5-0 win.
It was a solid all-round performance by Dalefield who dominated proceedings in terms of both territory and possession although player-coach Dane Lett said their work in front of the opposing goal was not always what it might have been.
“We did waste a few prime scoring chances but, at the end of the day, the result was pretty much what we were after so we can be happy about that.”
Lett said Dalefield went into the game knowing that Kapiti would be looking for turnovers to launch their attacks and therefore the intent was to play a controlled style of hockey which would minimise mistakes and largely deprive them of that opportunity.
“We needed to play smart and I think we did, they didn’t get a lot of scoring chances and when they did we were able to hold them out.”
A feature of the Dalefield performance was the effort of three of their younger team members, Hunter Jacobsen, Oliver Bunny and Ethan Presow, all of whom impressed with their high work-rate with Jacobsen making an excellent fist of what was his first appearance at this level.
Dane Lett scored two of the Dalefield goals with others going to Trent Lett, Rowan Yeo and Nathan Whiteman.
The Dalefield women were also in good form in winning their Wellington premier division match against Kapiti at Paraparaumu 3-1.
For coach Michael O’Connor the most pleasing aspect of this Dalefield performance was the manner in which they held the ball for long periods, something they had been struggling to do in previous games.
“We talked about the need for greater accuracy and patience in building our attacks and I was rapt with the improvement we showed in that regard,” he said.
Impressing O’Connor too was the manner in which his players responded to the challenge of having to play in various roles as with just the two subs there was the need to make positional changes from time to time.
“I think a few of them might have been running on empty at the end, it was a good test of their fitness and they came through really well.”
Outstanding for Dalefield was talented youngster Lauren Mahoney who was played “all over the place” at back, midfield and striker and coped magnificently while Katherine van Woerkom was her usual consistent self and the Anderson sisters, Kristy and Jenna, were always dangerous in attacking situations.
They both scored a goal from penalty corners while van Woerkom netted a penalty stroke.
