The final round of the premier men's hockey season before semifinals next week ended up with a qualifying match of sorts.
Despite the top four already being decided, the pairings of the semifinal match-ups would be decided by which side won the match between Albany and University.
With both sides on similar points, and in third and fourth position, the winner would take the former place and play Taieri, while the loser would have to face competition front-runners Kings United.
With the matches between the top four being so tightly contested, it is likely that no side had a strong preference for who to play in the knockouts. But right from the start it was clear that both sides wanted to win this match. As is often the case with matches between these old rivals, the pace was frenetic, and what one might call half-chances were prevalent, but no genuinely great opportunities were being created.
As the game moved into the second quarter, the University side was able to take advantage of the increased pace, given its preference for this style of game. Opening the scoring before halftime, the Whales were able to exert some pressure on the Albany side.
The Red and Blacks were able to create chances of their own, but were being wasteful in front of goal.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with goals not easy to come by and possession changing hands rapidly. University, however, was able to maintain its ever-so-slight dominance, converting a second to go 2-0 up.
Albany continued to push hard and, with merely four minutes remaining, earned a penalty stroke. But even that opportunity was let go, and University prevailed with the score remaining 2-0.
Albany will need to lift in its semifinal against points trophy winners Kings United, while University will be hoping to get past second-placed Taieri for the first time this season. In the other games Taieri put Southland Barbarians away 7-0, while Kings also finished the round on a high, dispatching University B by the same score. University B finished fifth and Southland sixth.
- Matthew West
