Hockey: Rowsell helps Auckland retain title

Northlander Dwayne Rowsell helped his Auckland side to their third successive title in the final of the NHL competition on Sunday. Photo / File

Even though Northland's men's and women's NHL sides were playing off for seventh and eighth, Northlanders still featured for Auckland sides in the top play-offs.

A goal from Northland's Dwayne Rowsell for Auckland in the final helped his side to a draw, before they went on to win in a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Southern to take home the Challenge Shield in a replay of last year's final.

Rowsell, 22, scored midway through the second half on Sunday to put Auckland back out in front with a well worked penalty corner flick but Southern responded immediately with a goal of their own, Jason Dungey levelling the score and sending the game to fulltime at 2-2.

With both periods of extra time proving fruitless for both teams, Auckland stamped their authority to win the penalty shoot-out 4-3 and clinch their third straight NHL title.

Earlier in the day, a Samantha Harrison double helped Auckland women defeat Canterbury 4-nil to win the bronze medal.

However, the main event of the women's division was Midlands winning the title for the first time under the current Ford NHL format after routing Capital 5-nil.

Northland women's side finished one place higher than their male counterparts as they wound up their NHL season in seventh.

Playing against the Southern Storm, Northland were victors 4-nil, with goals to Alyse Morgan, Naomi Evans, Jodie Nichol and Jessica MacAlister.

The Northland men went down 3-2 to the Central Mavericks after they were beaten in extra time following a 2-2 stalemate at fulltime.

NHL

Men: 7th/8th play-off: Central Mavericks 3 (Marcus Emery, Shea McAleese, Martin Atkinson) Northland 2 (Steve Nink, Jeremy Child). Fulltime: 2-2, Central won in extra time.

Women: 7th/8th play-off: Northland 4 (Alyse Morgan, Naomi Evans, Jodie Nichol, Jessica MacAlister) Southern Storm 0.