Hockey: Double threat in hockey final

Old girls' Tarannah Vette. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The possibility of a Maungakaramea double in the 2014 Northland premier grade club hockey finals will provide extra motivation for Old Girls and Springfield tomorrow.

Old Girls' stalwart Tarannah Vette said the possibility of a double triumph for Maungakaramea in the men's and women's premier championship would help to inspire her team to win their match.

Her side won the round robin series but Maungakaramea have been closing the gap between the sides in the latter part of the season with the most recent match between the two sides drawn and the final is likely to be extremely close.

"We started the season really well but in the last month or so we've been up and down a bit and lost the plot a little to be honest, but we feel like we're back on track now and we're really looking forward to the final," she said.

Vette is hopeful that the team can field its strongest side with a few injury concerns still lingering but the return of coach Alan Lints and his wife Jackie to the team is a welcome boost.

Springfield's Bevan Gibbs said Maungakaramea will start the men's final as the favourites after winning the round robin series comfortably but Springfield showed in their most recent encounter that they aren't too far off the pace.

"Maungakaramea have been pretty dominant this season as they have been for the past four of five years to be fair - they've certainly won the big games - but in saying that Springfield have played pretty well over the last month or so," he said.

"The playoff between the two teams two weeks ago, where Springfield came back from 0-2 down to force extra time and only lost on a penalty shootout has given us the confidence we can win."

Tomorrow

*Women's final, 3.20pm: Old Girls v Maungakaramea.
*Men's final, 4.50pm: Springfield v Maungakaramea.