Nothing quite announces to hockey players that the play-offs are under way like a penalty shoot out.
Currie Electrical Springfield now have plenty of reasons to put in some extra practice after missing all of their attempts in their shoot out against Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea on Saturday evening.
It was a disappointing end to such a fine match but after it was all locked up at 2-2 at full time and after two periods of extra time it was the only way to separate the two top men's premier teams.
Maungakaramea's Sam Webb and John Wallace slotted home their attempts to send their side into the final with Northland NHL goalkeeper Brad Pitman making a couple of good saves to frustrate Springfield.
Maungakaramea were 2-0 up by half-time until goals to Gavin Alison and Bevan Gibbs forced extra time. With nine players on the turf in the first spell of seven minutes and just seven in the second, there were several scoring chances but both defences managed to keep a clean sheet.
"It kind of felt like a final out there so it will be disappointing if the final is one-sided after such a tight semifinal," Springfield's Lloyd Gurr said.
If Saturday's match was any indication, Gurr said, then the grand final in two weeks will be some game particularly if Springfield play a part in it.
They still have to get past Mangapai, who beat Bream Bay 4-1 to keep their title hopes alive for at least another week.
Springfield finished the round robin competition 15 points behind Mangakaramea but there was little evidence of such a gap between them on Saturday.
Bream Bay finished well ahead of Mangapai on the table as well but that meant little on Saturday.
Mangakaramea now get a rest ahead of the final on August 16 and will be able to watch Springfield and Mangapai slug in out this Saturday.
The first round of the women's premier competition was just as lively with top side Chill Tech Old Girls putting a dozen past Mangapai but the other two matches were much closer.
Club Auto Hikurangi had a huge struggle to get past Whangarei Girls' High School and were fortunate to remain in the final series after a 4-3 extra time win.
Hikurangi's Alyse Morgan scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes of the game but then Girls High started playing some lovely hockey and led 3-2 going into the final quarter when Claudia King made the most of an intercept to equalise to send the match into extra time.
Toni Wright scored in the second period of extra time to book a match against Real Deal Maungakaramea next week after they defeated Gilmore Brown Springfield 5-2.
Hikurangi take points in top of table clash with Maungakaramea
Hikurangi have secured their spot at the top of the reserve A women's hockey competition with five rounds to play after their 2-0 win over second placed Maungakaramea.
Hikurangi went into the top of the table clash holding a one point advantage in the competition and have extended that lead with their win. Hikurangi scored mid-way through the first half when Toni Pivac converted a penalty corner opportunity to put her side ahead 1-0, a lead they took into the half-time break.
From then on Maungakaramea were playing catch up and while they created chances, they were unable to convert any forays into the circle, thanks to some outstanding Hikurangi defence.
Hikurangi extended their lead in the dying minutes of the match with a brilliant individual effort from midfielder Toni Bean to secure the win 2-0.
Hikurangi coach Tony Organ said, "It was a hard-fought, even contest", and he praised his team on their ability to convert opportunities when Maungakaramea couldn't.
Organ also commended the work of his goalkeeper Jacqui Organ, saying "She kept us in the game".
The Friday night win gives Hikurangi a four-point lead in the competition.
In other reserve A women's games on Friday, Springfield beat Parihaka 2-1 and Old Girls beat Whangarei Girls' High School 4-1 while Mangapai beat Kamo High School 2-1.
In the reserve men's competition Springfield beat Hora Hora 5-1, Mangapai beat Bream Bay 3-0 and Whangarei Boys' High School beat Maungakaramea 10-2.