Misty morning down at Innes Common today. 
hockey
Rā 143 Rāapa 24 o Haratua
Wednesday is game night! Hillcrest High School v St Paul’s College. Usually a white wash but our boys played their socks off and limited the St Paul’s team to 4! Result!
Rā 138 Rāmere 19 o Haratua
An early start so I could finish early to go to see the Blacksticks play India with Aonghas. Lots of hockey players with ‘appointments’ this afternoon!
Rā 136 Rāapa 17 o Haratua
Hockey. Unfortunately, not a glorious win but a well-fought game. This is a subdued, reflective team warming down.
Rā 134 Rāhina 15 o Haratua
Morning training. Morning sky.
Rā 111 Rāhoroi 22 o Paengawhāwhā.
Nice to be home! Lazy morning, hockey afternoon, pub evening. Great to catch up with family and friends. Gus played his first game for the Prems team today…he was called up because they were short and he made a good account of himself.
Rā 92, Rātapu 2 o Paengawhāwhā
Busy day. Hockey trials for Gus at 8.00am for U18 Waikato team. Trailrun up Maungatautari with Jo – 900m of ascent over 15km in 2h25 – not bad going a week after a 100km! Bit of a ‘nana nap’ this afternoon when I fell asleep while reading! Then watched Gus playing hockey for Suburbs – did us proud by crossing the ball in for a goal, then scoring one and then being named MVP. Finally went to see a very weird but interesting French film…far too complicated to explain so here’s a link to the Guardian review of Ma Loute.
Rā 78, Rātapu 19 o Poutū-te-rangi 2017
All packed for Oxfam! Catch up coffee with Allyn. Then back to the hockey turf for another season. My little boy now looks like he belongs on a field of men! Scary!
Rā 246, Rāmere 2 o Mahuru
Early starts don’t suit the Hilly Boys! Neither does a cold, grey, wet and windy Wellington! Losing Lewis and Braydon to injuries on top of Gus being out impacted not just on the physical and skill level of the team but also the mental game. They kept battling but couldn’t break through. This was a final for them: they needed to win to stay in the India Rankin Cup next year. They didn’t. 3.15 saw us all back at the turf for the 27/28th place play off. Gus, having found his shoe and with foot firmly strapped, was determined to play. Scott’s College were bigger and well-drilled and they quickly took control. Once it was clear the game was lost the boys settled in to enjoy themselves. They continued to play hard but had fun as they went. Scott’s took it all in good heart.
Rā 245, Rāpare 1 o Mahuru
And finally a win and 4 goals! Jubilation and relief all round. But the boys made us sweat it out by going 2 – 0 up early in the first half, then letting New Plymouth get back on even terms by half time. The boys gave away a soft goal early in the 2nd half and then equalised with about 10 mins to go. A well defended final second PC sent us into ‘golden goal’, no goalies and 9 men apiece. Tension, emotions running high.. and fortunately, after some pressure in the circle from NPBHS we broke free, got the ball into an undefended circle and scored!!!
Jo was pleased not to be sent into a penalty shoot out!
