Wellington’s Quinovic Women's first game in Pool D resulted in a 3-1 win against Hawkes Bay and moved then into second place behind Waikato.
Wellington were first to score midway through the second quarter when they attacked from deep in their own half. The ball was played into the circle and when the first shot was blocked, Ruby Baker was there to push the ball into the net.
Hawkes Bay equalised through veteran Charlotte Loader with the last hit of the third stanza, before midway through the fourth, Minna Reid regained the lead for Wellington when she scored from close range after receiving well-judged pass.
Wellington continued to attack and with less than two minutes to play Amy Robinson capped off a superb solo run with a reverse-stick thunderbolt that gave the keeper no chance.
Wellington next play winless Otago at 11:15 on Friday morning, and victory in that game will put them into the playoff for fifth on Saturday.
The men’s game against Canterbury could not have started better for Wellington with Liam Mortimer scoring twice within the first five minutes. Benedict van Woerkom extended Wellington’s lead ten minutes into the second quarter, and in the final minute of the half young Black Sticks’ midfielder Joey Morrison, got Canterbury onto the board.
Wellington did well to stifle every Canterbury attack in an action-packed second half and scored again in the last minute when Benedict van Woerkom knocked in his second to seal a solid victory and top spot in Pool C. They next meet the well-performed Otago on Friday evening, needing only a draw to gain a place in Saturday’s Final.
