#MeetTheTeam: Premier Men
This year, we are starting a #MeetTheTeam series. Every month we’ll introduce you to a couple of our teams that take the turf every 2021 Winter weekend to battle it out for the win. This month’s team is the… AISC Premier Men.
Author: Dylan Patel
As the summer sun was still shining, the curtain raised on another season of Intercity Competition for the AISC Premier Men’s team.
The returning captain, Jainesh Sukha leads the team this year alongside Keshan Narsai. A mix of youthful exuberance and old heads in the team means there is a good balance. Chuck in a couple of NZ Blacksticks and the excitement was unavoidable.
Preetesh Parsotam, Jonny Bilkey, and Peter Prema return for another year, despite all being well into their 30’s (showing time is in the eye of the beholder), they’ve still got some juice in the tank.
Deelan Patel, Dipesh Dahya, Miten Patel, Prashant Patel, Nish Patel, George Darin, Akshay Chauhan, Hamish Patel, Ben McKibbin, Jason Kwan, Alan Kwan, Krishan Patel, Jayden Dahya, Jaiden Gosha and the returning Devan Narsai form the squad along and with our soon-to-be Tokyo 2020(2021) Olympians, Stephen Jenness and Dom Dixon also thrown in the mix, this group of lads can produce greatness.
Equipped with a few training runs and a pre-season hit out against our Pukekohe cousins, the team were ready...and boy, didn’t they show it.
The 17th March, St Paddy’s day. Under the Avondale lights, basking in the victorious defence by Emirates Team NZ of the 36th America’s Cup, the lads went out and put together a commanding performance, much like Blair Tuke and Peter Burling had done earlier in the day, putting Western to the sword for a 4-0 victory.
Next up Southern...littered with current and ex-Blacksticks and NHL players. Boys put up a good fight but unfortunately left Papatoetoe without the points.
Sommerville were next on the hit list, and despite a great first half fight, it was unfortunately not enough to take the rewards on that day...but that was March finished...April was on the horizon.
NSU...Harbour 1, primetime. Stadium was packed, beers for the supporters were flowing and the heavens opened. Torrential downpour couldn’t dampen the feeling that today would be a good day. Despite going down a goal early, Dom was immense in goal, repelling the NSU wave after wave. On the counter, a beautifully flowing move led to a exquisite finish by Akshay that had us believing.
Unfortunately, just before oranges, NSU buried their 2nd goal, before a contender for goal of the season saw them put the game to bed
3-1.
Howick Pak...4:30pm at LEP...the graveyard shift. Good patches throughout the game weren’t enough to get the victory that was so desperately wanted. But, improvement was apparent, and that is vital to any successful team.
Well, that’s a wrap for the 1st part of our season review. The lads appreciate all of your support as they go out and represent the Green and White and the fabled history of this great club on the Intercity stage...so please keep an eye out on the fixture list and get down to the turfs around Tamaki Makaurau, where you can enjoy a punnet of hot chips whilst watching top quality hockey...not many better ways to spend a Saturday in my opinion.
That’s all folks. Go well and stay safe.
Premier Squad 2021:
Stephen Jenness
Dom Dixon
Deelan Patel
Hamish Patel
Preetesh Parsotam
Nish Patel
Miten Patel
Peter Prema
Ben McKibbin
Jason Kwan
Krishan Patel
Jainesh Sukha (C)
Keshan Narsai (C)
Prashant Patel
Kwan Chun Fung
Jayden Dahya
Akshay Chauhan
Devan Narsai
George Darin
Jonny Bilkey
Dipesh Dahya
Jaiden Gosha
Coach: Preetesh Parsotam
Assistant Coach: Stephen Jenness
Manager: Dylan Patel
For more information on draws and results, click here.