Hockey: Nines title to Springfield

A narrow win in the final of the men's premier 9s has given Currie Electrical Springfield the inaugural nine-aside crown after a 3-2 scuffle versus Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea.

Both teams featured strongly in the fixture but a comeback from Maungakaramea came too late in the piece.

Springfield coach Richard Storey said "it was quite a tough game".

"Karamea scored first and we were 1-nil down then we got up to 3-1 and they scored with four minutes to go."

Maungakaramea coach Dave Adams said his side couldn't capitalise on their early lead.

"I just think it was probably another game where we didn't convert the opportunities that we had. [We] should of probably driven home our advantage from the opening goal and got another one."

Feedback on the nine-aside format was mixed.

Storey said: "It's been fabulous, the players like the speed of the game," while Adams said "I'd rather be playing normal hockey to be fair, but it was all right."

Men's Premier 9s Finals: Springfield 3 Maungakaramea 2; Mangapai 5 Bream Bay United 3.