Duncan broke a 0-0 deadlock with the match’s lone goal in the final seven minutes of the game. The victory secured Southern a place in the fifth-sixth playoff match against Northland today.
The Southern under-18 men’s team will also play Northland today in its final game. The two teams will battle for seventh and eighth.
Southern will be looking for consecutive wins against its rival after winning 4-1 yesterday.
Northland led early before Southern players Nick Parata, Billy Sheard and Angus Cotton fired in first-half goals.
Parata sealed Southern’s win with his second score, the only goal of the second half.
The women’s national championships decider is also a rematch of one of yesterday’s pool games. Canterbury will need to turn around its 5-1 defeat by Central to win the title.
Auckland will meet Capital in the men’s final. Meanwhile, Albany club player Malachi Buschl has been called into the Black Sticks squad.
The national side is on tour in Japan and is scheduled to play three matches against India next week.
Clive Daniels has been named head coach of the Southern Dogs for its Hockey League campaign.Daniels has previously coached in Auckland and South Australia.
