CLUB HOCKEY: Close competition

One point continues to separate Northland's leading women's hockey sides in a very tight premier grade competition.
Following a 2-2 draw in the previous round, Gilmore Brown Springfield A and ChillTech Old Girls tied again in round 11 on Saturday at Rosvall ITM Stadium.
Neither team gave an inch in the tight encounter which saw Springfield take a brief lead during the first half.
Having recently returned from the Champions Trophy in Holland, Black Stick Alana Millington found the back of the net off a penalty corner about 20 minutes into the match.
Meanwhile, Old Girls fought back with a quality goal set up by their Black Sticks player Laura Douglas.
Douglas had a very strong game for her side, grabbing an intercept and having a shot at goal, before Caitlin Gravatt collected the rebound, and equalised.
Both sides remained scoreless in the second half and Springfield held on to their one-point lead over Old Girls on the table.
Kamo - who are propping up the table - drew 1-1 with Hikurangi, which saw them earn their first point of the season, while Maungakaramea defeated Whangarei Girls High School 2-0.
The premier women now have a six-week break from regular competition because of the upcoming National Hockey League Tournament.
A subsidiary competition so players not involved in the NHL can keep playing has been organised. Old Girls and Maungakaramea players will join up while Springfield and Hikurangi combine and these two teams will play matches against the WGHS and Kamo High School sides in a four- team competition lasting four weeks.
Northland's premier men's teams played a Super 8 round.Bream Bay defeated Springfield 7-6 while Maungakaramea and Mangapai drew 6-6. The premier men now have two weeks off then play three rounds of Super 8.