Nuggets chasing record-breaking win

• Published date: 02 June 2023
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

It has won the tournament the last two years and is aiming for a hat-trick of titles this year

It would be the first time the North Otago side achieved that.

The North Otago Nuggets defended the Ian Smith Trophy in Gore at Queen’s Birthday Weekend last year.

It was the first time North Otago had won the regional tournament consecutively since the 1980s, when hockey was played on grass.

The team won the trophy on its home turf last year for the first time in six years.

Despite missing a few key players from last year, the team looked very good again this year, North Otago Hockey president Jared Ovens said.

‘‘We have lost some very top players from last year in Ethan Booth, George Elridge and Josh Dalziel. But we have the services again of Jonty Naylor and Josh Caldwell as our player of origin players who will be key.

‘‘Also with Mark Holthusen [who has been...