We are a team of newcomers and old hands.  Our first 3 games showed a lot of promise with some good play resulting in favourable finishing scores. Unfortunately, the first round of injuries came early where we lost 3 players.  One for the rest of the season and the others for a shorter period. 

​

As the season continued, so did the injuries and medical problems. We had occasional successes but a combination of the other teams improving their game and our team lacking in practise, skills and coordination, and often in players, we could not quite capitalise on the 50/50 ball. However, with a bit more hockey brain that comes from experience, some of our players will definitely be looking at a higher grade in the years to come. When we played a more aggressive game and claimed the ball as ours the team got better results.  Using the top 2 inches and a mindset of getting at least 51 percent of the outcomes there were moments of really good hockey. 

​

We have a number of players who really came to play the game and left all they had on the field week after week and they should be proud of their efforts as much as we appreciate their play.

​

At the end of the season we didn’t end up bottom of the table and every week we had the highlights, lows and emotional rollercoaster that is a game of hockey.

​

Pete Fitzsimons

​

2023 Season Round Up

​

This year Division 2 men’s grade for ABC proved a bit of a challenge right from the beginning. Registration numbers saw quite a few players missing from the trials list. We were expecting that we might field 4 teams given the team numbers from the previous year. It turned out that getting 3 teams was going to be fun and games and carefully selecting the teams and casual players was going to make or break it to field 3 teams. The club decided to have a change of concept in selecting a stronger team so to challenge for the championship. The result in this team black lost 4-5 players from the previous squad.

 

There were some concerns from the remaining players that team Black was going to struggle throughout the season. A bit of a rally from Tobin and Richard to see how we could put 2 more competitive teams on the field. Team Black was formed with quite a blend of new and existing players. Some thought had to go into how we would play given we had lost some significant players from the squad.

​

We could see that were not going to be a team that was going to string together lots of passes without losing possession. So, we hatched a plan to hit long thus cutting the mid field player passes down We ran with 2 strikers and strengthen the mid field defense.  Well, this worked really well for about 6 games where were picking up wins Unfortunately with teams looking over the fence could see what we were doing and stated to intercept the longer ball.

​

New plan. Retain possession. Well, this worked ok as well but given that we needed to run more we were struggling for fitness and now needed to field a 16 man squad each week. Unfortunately, we had a few losses due to lack of players and we lost our way later in the games.

​

Back to the drawing board finding another casual player (Sam) Calling on the other casual players and drawing on the Maroon team for our nomination players. As the team make up had to change, from the previous season we had to see how the team placement were going to pan out

​

Strikers - Tom moved to inner / Kevin moved to half  

Goalkeepers – Dominic played Striker & inner / Benjamin played Fullback & Inner

Fullback – Chris played Goalkeeper for 1 game

Half – Richard played Inner & Centre 1/2

Striker – Graham played Centre 1/2

For the last 5 or 6 games we had quite a different make up.

 

The win success dropped off as other teams were coming better as the season went on. Team Black has pride in keeping the score honest and losses were only by 1 or two goals generally, except ECB where the team took a bath. Unfortunately, the manager was away this week due to covid household contacts. The manager expected a bonus point win but it was a bonus points loss. This was such a shock that Richard thought it was a team prank. The feedback was they were like black stick players and a non-stop wave of young skilled players. The manager completely surprised with this came and watched this team in a couple of their following games only to find this was not the case. So they must have been taking the team too lightly and got caught out. Lessen to learn. This loss killed off our chance of top 4.

​

It could be said we tried and tried with the team we had. We performed above our playing weight, changed our plans and took all the top teams to very close results. Despite the losses our team banter was high and after game attendance was pretty good. We had a team function at NEW BREW where most attended.

 

We had a few injuries along the way…

Jack Wood legs, Peter Fitzsimons legs, Richard Van Der Vegte broken hand, Dominic Holt Fracture in the knuckle.

 

Covid caused issues from week to week with players dropping late in the week. One week the Holt family were out which meant Goalkeeper and 2 field players out as household contacts. Then later qin the season there were more individual covid lock downs.

 

I would like to thank the ABC appointed umpires as we had plenty of games with non-Harbour umpires but in particular Michael Iddon, Andrew Holt and John Brockelbank from our team for providing umpires for other teams. In fact, Division 2 Men provided I expect most of the club umpires for the club. This needs to be addressed for next season.

 

Goalscorers: Graham Wessels (6), Jack Woods (4), William D'Souza (3), Ethan Lewis (2), Michael Iddon (1), Noel Hensman (1), Graham Thomson (1), Sam Norris (1)

​

FINAL Result

8th from 13 teams in championship. Did not qualify for finals plate round

​

Best 1/4 time remark from Peter Leeves . “We need to mark up so close like our xxxx is in their pocket.”

Richard the Manager lost his rag a few times not being able to play but said what needed to be said.

Overall a mid table result with lots of fun.

​

2021 Season Round Up

​

This year Division 2 was ecstatic over our ability to field three highly competitive teams. ABC Black was made up of returning ABC black players, some players moving from the Yellow team, and some new faces to the club. We did this to help facilitate some of the master's players who all wanted to compete in the summer master's tournament.

​

During preseason training, we thought we had a good chance at being in the top 4. Early in the season, our plan was going great as we were playing the lower-ranked teams giving us good points in the competition and boosting our egos.

 

Throughout the season, we had some memorable games:

 

Takapuna Green v ABC Black

We had a tumble playing the Takapuna Green team. A team that on paper wasn’t flash, but unfortunately, they turned up with a new attitude to win and maybe some young new players. Unfortunately, this outlier turned into a trend, and we began losing games by a goal or two a bit more frequently after that. This wasn’t good as there was very little between the top 8 teams, and with many games only won by a single goal, making it was vital to get as many points as possible.

 

ABC Black v ABC Yellow

This was a big game with Black looking like it could win for the first time in years. Tobin introduced a tactic in this game that mucked up our defence, thus a crucial loss, despite our high expectations.

 

ABC Black V NSU Red

At this point, NSU was top of the table and looking strong. As the game went on, ABC was able to compete, and the Red team's dominance wasn’t there. Despite being a goal down, the game was in the balance. ABC pulled a late goal back, and we decided to put a player up high, and with luck,  the ball got punted up the field and found our man, who swiftly put it in the back of the net—making the score a solid 2-1. Waking up the RED team, but ABC was able to hold on for a great win.

 

The rest of the results for the season were going pretty much as the teams ranking were on the ladder, making it hard for us to break into the top 4.

 

With Covid once again bringing the season to a premature close, we couldn’t play ABC yellow and fight then for a position in the plate final.

 

Closing remarks.

This year field goals were hard to get throughout the season, despite many close chances.

​

Graham Wessels and William D’Souza were featuring well on the Golden Stick ladder with a reasonably bold listing.

​

Thanks to the other Division 2 teams for showing up to practice and giving us competitive games on the Pinehurst turf.

​

Special thanks to our regular supporters turning up and giving us the big cheers

​

A Special thanks to ANDREW HOLT(our substitute goalkeeper), our fill-in players, and our Coach ANDREW THOMSON. Who was excellent and helped us do drills that helped us develop our game.

​

2020 Season Round Up

​

This year Division 2 was ecstatic over our ability to field three highly competitive teams. ABC Black was made up of returning ABC black players, some players moving from the Yellow team, and some new faces to the club. We did this to help facilitate some of the master's players who all wanted to compete in the summer master's tournament.

 

During preseason training, we thought we had a good chance at being in the top 4. Early in the season, our plan was going great as we were playing the lower-ranked teams giving us good points in the competition and boosting our egos.

 

Throughout the season, we had some memorable games:

 

Takapuna Green v ABC Black

We had a tumble playing the Takapuna Green team. A team that on paper wasn’t flash, but unfortunately, they turned up with a new attitude to win and maybe some young new players. Unfortunately, this outlier turned into a trend, and we began losing games by a goal or two a bit more frequently after that. This wasn’t good as there was very little between the top 8 teams, and with many games only won by a single goal, making it was vital to get as many points as possible.

 

ABC Black v ABC Yellow

This was a big game with Black looking like it could win for the first time in years. Tobin introduced a tactic in this game that mucked up our defence, thus a crucial loss, despite our high expectations.

 

ABC Black V NSU Red

At this point, NSU was top of the table and looking strong. As the game went on, ABC was able to compete, and the Red team's dominance wasn’t there. Despite being a goal down, the game was in the balance. ABC pulled a late goal back, and we decided to put a player up high, and with luck,  the ball got punted up the field and found our man, who swiftly put it in the back of the net—making the score a solid 2-1. Waking up the RED team, but ABC was able to hold on for a great win.

 

The rest of the results for the season were going pretty much as the teams ranking were on the ladder, making it hard for us to break into the top 4.

 

With Covid once again bringing the season to a premature close, we couldn’t play ABC yellow and fight then for a position in the plate final.

 

Closing remarks.

This year field goals were hard to get throughout the season, despite many close chances.

 

Graham Wessels and William D’Souza were featuring well on the Golden Stick ladder with a reasonably bold listing.

 

Thanks to the other Division 2 teams for showing up to practice and giving us competitive games on the Pinehurst turf.

 

Special thanks to our regular supporters turning up and giving us the big cheers

 

A Special thanks to ANDREW HOLT(our substitute goalkeeper), our fill-in players, and our Coach ANDREW THOMSON. Who was excellent and helped us do drills that helped us develop our game.

​

​

This year there was great delight that the Division 2 Men were able to wrangle together 3 teams. Providing a solid talent pool for higher divisions in future years.  Special thanks to Tobin Blathwayt for making this happen.

​

ABC Black was formed from players from the previous year Black team and those looking to play Summer Masters.

​

This year all three D2 teams practiced together with Tobin coordinating the practices with the much appreciated assistance from Gerard Tan and Nic Knowles. These trainings started off with a great turnout at the start of the season but as the season progressed and we were faced with the COVID lockdowns it was hard to maintain the same level of attendance as we could train in bubbles of ten.

 

This year we started with a squad of 16 but before the first whistle had been blown we were already at a squad of 14. This did not prove to be an issue as each week we had more or less 100% attendance.

​

The Black team started off strong with three wins, three draws and two losses that helped us accumulate points which later became vital with the COVID draw shake up that helped put us 5th on the table after the lockdowns and going into knockout.   This was a big step up from 2019 and reflects how we have progressed as a team.

​

When the post lockdown draw came out we found ourselves in the top 8 as a result our impeccable play earlier in the season and a dash of buttery luck. As we didn’t have to face some of the stronger teams in the division as D2 has 13 teams and we were yet to face all of them pre lockdown.

 

Unfortunately our buttery luck ran out in playoff rounds as we got eliminated in the first round to East Coast Bays

The team generally performed well throughout the season with a solid backbone and infrequently conceding goals, however unfortunately we never really found our footing in being able to convert our strength of on field play into goals in the back of the net.

​

Special mentions

​

Anuj Patel as a new member to the club he added some vibrant youth upfront and we wish him the for going up in the divisions next season.

​

Graham Wessels for become our half time hype man who helped give the team that extra kick of energy when we needed it.

 

Steve Horan father of Joshua decided to pick up the stick and give it ago rather than be a spectator. Every game Steve showed consistent improvement and moves on to summer masters. Joshua should be proud of his dad(and look out).

 

Rob Kennedy our 100% commitment man took a right hook to the face from a stick realigning his nose only to be back on the turf only 2 weeks later. (Nomination for the axeman trophy put forward.)

 

Short of players for a non-competition game against Takapuna Black who better to call into the team Vincent and Leo sons of Manager Richard Van Der Vegte. ABC is fortunate to have a huge number of families involved in the club in various grades. Nothing is more special than playing in the same team even if just called upon to fill in.

 

The team had good fun and many now move into the Summer Masters competition.

 

We have to pass special thanks to Tobin for his 100% commitment to ABC to get the 3 teams together and to oversee the three teams with rotating goal keepers, practices and administration. Thank you Tobin for all the time you have committed to our division this year.

​

Richard Van Der Vegte, Manager

​

​

2019 Season Round up

​

Team Black has had an eventful season from start to finish.

​

The results for the season were mixed. When playing top of the table teams we performed well keeping the score within a couple of goals only to lose against weaker teams by the same scoreline.

​

We had a few wins and draws along the way and when the division was split into top and bottom half, we started to put some good performances together.

​

ABC Black has a long tradition in the club as a more social team where the practice is optional however this year there was a core group of players who attended the ABC Div 2 Yellow practices and were rewarded with quite a few extra games due to injuries in the yellow team.

 

We thank the coaching staff of ABC Yellow particularly Neil Ulrich who coordinated 95% of the practices.

​

The overall result was we played on finals day and won the bowl trophy.

​

This was a new trophy awarded for the first time in 2018 to ABC YELLOW. So ABC Black has stepped up to keep the trophy for the club and support YELLOW to win the Bowl trophy for 2019 also.

​

The team has had a fun year playing together with most wanting to do it all again next year and many of the team are playing summer Masters hockey together. Team spirit has been fantastic among the players and everyone has been keen as mustard in playing.

​

Some great moments.

​

Henry De Groot saved his first penalty stroke as a goalkeeper and whilst Henry is small in stature, he was pumped up with the save.

​

Our youths Joseph and Joshua had some individual good moments and received player of the day trophy on several occasions.

​

Rob bought to the team the spirit of 100% commitment and never say die attitude this rubbed off over the team. If there were bodies in the goal mouth trying to save a goal it would be Rob in the mix.

​

Graham was our top goal scorer from either PC or from field goals. There is no substitute to hitting the ball hard and many goals came from simply speed of the ball.

 

Dan was our go-forward man bringing the ball forward and looking for runners. Dan was also instrumental to lifting the standard of the team with getting meetings in the changing sheds going prior to the game. This had a positive effect on the team. Everyone contributed well to the team based on their skill set.  Neeson had a strong season and we look forward to seeing how he develops.

 

ABC Black has a knob of the day trophy which has been around for many years, but this year only handed out 3 times to the KNOBS of the day and the rest to good performances on the field.

 

The mentoring of our players from Dan, Graham and John Brockelbank has been good for the team in both pregame and half-time team talks. Thanks to Wayne our captain who keeps reminding the team to pass and not dribble!

 

Our communications path this year was via a phone APP called HEJA. This has worked well all year and recommend this to other team managers.
 

See you all again next year.