Albany and University could not be separated for the second time this season in the game of the round in the premier men's competition this weekend.
The sides battled to a 1-1 draw in a match in which both had chances to score late in the game.
The teams had drawn 2-2 earlier in the season, and were tied at the top of the table going into this match, giving it all the makings of a tight affair.
What followed was exactly that.
Both teams battled for supremacy and position throughout the first half but neither side was able to convert any of its opportunities.
Neither side lacked for endeavour on attack, but the defenders for both teams were up to anything thrown at them.
The game went to oranges at 0-0 and it all to play for.
The Whales came out with renewed vigour in the second half but it took until midway through the half for the game to really come to life when Uni scored through a Henry Will strike.
From the restart, Albany knocked the ball around and, a little under a minute later, Josh Caldwell smoked the ball into the roof of the goal to level the scores after Aarie Verwey beat Uni defenders in the build-up.
With the scores locked at 1-1, the remaining 10 minutes was arguably the most intense phase of the match but there were no more goals, despite both sides having chances.
In the other matches this weekend, Kings United consolidated its third placing with a 5-1 win over Uni B Black Panthers. The Taieri Tuataras game against Southland was postponed due to the weather and the worry that Southland would not be able to get home later in the day.
The first Southern NHL trials were held yesterday with a good turnout. The second trials are this next weekend.
-By Matthew West
