Hockey teams rake in big scores

 By HENRY MORABANG

DESPITE the high scoring matches in Day 1 of the 2015 Pacific Games hockey competition, Oceania Hockey Federation president Pam Edgar is impressed that competition minnows are putting up a good challenge.

Edgar, who is a guest for the Games Organising Committee for the duration of the hockey competition, said although Fiji registered a record-breaking 31-1 win against Tonga, the latter gave them competition.

Flanker Vanessa Michael scored four goals to help her PNG women hockey team to beat Vanuatu 9-4.

PNG opened the score sheet through Alice Fred four minutes into the game before Michael extended the lead to 2-0 at the 14th minute mark. 

At the resumption of play, Vanuatu’s Evelyn Kalsong cut down the score line after Michael’s goal to trail 2-1 but captain Ruby Kiapin had other thoughts, scoring in the 15th minute to lead 3-1 into the break. 

Michael scored again a minute into the second half before Kari Raurela added another in the 22nd minute. 

Vanuatu never gave up and hit back through captain Belinda Nampas and Anna Job in 23rd and 27th minutes respectively to narrow the score to 5-3. 

Raurela picked up her second goal in the 31st minute before Vanuatu’s Josepy Toara got one back. PNG scored three more goals through Ruby Kiapin and Michael . 

Other results: 

(M) Vanuatu 21 bt Tonga 1 (M) Fiji 22 bt Solomon Islands 1. 

The results of men’s games between PNG-Solomon Islands and  Fiji-Vanuatu were not available for print.