Auckland preserved its unbeaten record heading into the National Hockey League semifinals tomorrow, but needed a controversial last-minute Mark Laurence penalty stroke to salvage a 2-2 draw with Southern yesterday to do it.
It was another encouraging effort from the southerners, who won three of their first five games and eventually finished in fifth place with 10 points, well clear of Central, Canterbury and Northland, who each won only one game.
Northland had to wait until yesterday's seventh, and last, round to pick up its first points of the tournament but did it in style, with a 4-1 win over disappointing Canterbury.
Josh Miller led Northland's charge with a hat trick, while Duncan Pearce scored the other to take his haul to an impressive seven, half of the 14 scored by Northland.
The Hemant Lala-coached Aucklanders face Capital in the second of the men's semifinals, well aware their round-robin clash in round three was a keen affair, won 3-2 by Auckland.
First up, Midlands will play host North Harbour in what promises to be a close contest.
In round-robin play, in a tight first-round clash, they drew 1-1. North Harbour ended its section play with the same result, 1-1 with Capital yesterday, after Simon Brill had given Harbour the early lead.
Canterbury women ended pool play unbeaten following yesterday's 1-0 win over North Harbour.
Monique Wilson's goal separated the two sides, which will meet again tomorrow in a semifinal.
Midlands, 3-0 winner over Central yesterday with Jess Bradley scoring twice, finished second and will play Auckland in what also promises to be another close one. They met in round two in a hard-fought 2-2 draw and eventually ended pool play with identical four-win/two-draw records but Midlands was ahead on goal difference.
Auckland, with goals from Jan Burrows and Aleesha Nana, beat bottom-placed Southern 2-0 yesterday to take its tally to 15 goals in seven games.
• Men: Midlands 4, Central 1; Northland 4, Canterbury 1; Auckland 2, Southern 2; North Harbour 1, Capital 1. Standings: Auckland 19 points, Midlands 16, North Harbour 14, Capital 13, Southern 10, Canterbury 3, Central 3, Northland 3. Tomorrow's semifinal fixtures: Auckland v Capital, Midlands v North Harbour.
• Women: Northland 4, Capital 1; Midlands 3, Central 1; Auckland 2, Southern 0; Canterbury 1, North Harbour 0. Final standings: Canterbury 17 points, Midlands 14, Auckland 14, North Harbour 13, Northland 9, Capital 4, Central 4, Southern 2. Tomorrow's semifinal fixtures: Canterbury v North Harbour, Midlands v Auckland.
- Terry Maddaford
It was another encouraging effort from the southerners, who won three of their first five games and eventually finished in fifth place with 10 points, well clear of Central, Canterbury and Northland, who each won only one game.
Northland had to wait until yesterday's seventh, and last, round to pick up its first points of the tournament but did it in style, with a 4-1 win over disappointing Canterbury.
Josh Miller led Northland's charge with a hat trick, while Duncan Pearce scored the other to take his haul to an impressive seven, half of the 14 scored by Northland.
The Hemant Lala-coached Aucklanders face Capital in the second of the men's semifinals, well aware their round-robin clash in round three was a keen affair, won 3-2 by Auckland.
First up, Midlands will play host North Harbour in what promises to be a close contest.
In round-robin play, in a tight first-round clash, they drew 1-1. North Harbour ended its section play with the same result, 1-1 with Capital yesterday, after Simon Brill had given Harbour the early lead.
Canterbury women ended pool play unbeaten following yesterday's 1-0 win over North Harbour.
Monique Wilson's goal separated the two sides, which will meet again tomorrow in a semifinal.
Midlands, 3-0 winner over Central yesterday with Jess Bradley scoring twice, finished second and will play Auckland in what also promises to be another close one. They met in round two in a hard-fought 2-2 draw and eventually ended pool play with identical four-win/two-draw records but Midlands was ahead on goal difference.
Auckland, with goals from Jan Burrows and Aleesha Nana, beat bottom-placed Southern 2-0 yesterday to take its tally to 15 goals in seven games.
• Men: Midlands 4, Central 1; Northland 4, Canterbury 1; Auckland 2, Southern 2; North Harbour 1, Capital 1. Standings: Auckland 19 points, Midlands 16, North Harbour 14, Capital 13, Southern 10, Canterbury 3, Central 3, Northland 3. Tomorrow's semifinal fixtures: Auckland v Capital, Midlands v North Harbour.
• Women: Northland 4, Capital 1; Midlands 3, Central 1; Auckland 2, Southern 0; Canterbury 1, North Harbour 0. Final standings: Canterbury 17 points, Midlands 14, Auckland 14, North Harbour 13, Northland 9, Capital 4, Central 4, Southern 2. Tomorrow's semifinal fixtures: Canterbury v North Harbour, Midlands v Auckland.
- Terry Maddaford
