Complacency crept into the Maungakaramea team during last year's Northern Men's Hockey premiers hit out with Mangapai at ITM Rosvall Stadium.
Maungakaramea, who are unbeaten this season and head the table again, were up against third-placed Mangapai during round six at the weekend.
The premiers lacked organisation and cohesion when they set
foot on the turf and, despite a one goal buffer at halftime, it was not good enough for coach Dean Child.
A "bit of abuse" and a rev up from Child at the interval sorted his troops out, who emerged a completely different side in the second half, he said.
Seven goals were slotted from the Maungakaramea, including a hat-trick by David Heappey.
Mangapai, who remained scoreless for the match, did not know what hit them when the final score was posted 8-0 to Maungakaramea.
"We have been slightly disorganised this season ... we were not bonding at all in that first half," Child said.
"But we are starting to come together a bit better and we are still winning, so I guess that's what matters."
Springfield held onto their second spot in the standings after defeating cellar dwellers Bream Bay 3-2. Bream Bay have drawn this season, but are yet to secure a win.
They are on the right track however, showing improvement under new coach/player Dave Adams.
Bream Bay face Maungakaramea next week and Mangapai play Springfield.
Competition is tightening up in the women's premier division as teams play each other for the second time, Whangarei Girls High School coach Grant McLeod said.
"The teams are trying a different tactical approach this time around," he said.
During round one WGHS was beaten 5-2 by Maungakaramea, but on Saturday the school girls played some quality hockey and created opportunities - "good in every aspect of the game except when it came to goal shooting," McLeod said.
Maungakaramea took their chances when they could and Jonelle Culling hit their first goal during the first half to a scoreless WGHS, backed up by a goal from Anna Thorpe in the second stanza, leading her side to a 2-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Kamo High School stepped up to play Old Girls who thrashed Kamo in the first round 6-0.
Old Girls snuck in a 1-0 victory, scoring the winning goal late in the piece after some solid defensive work by Kamo kept Old Girls out for extended periods.
Hikurangi had the bye this week, but play WGHS next week, while Maungakaramea face Kamo.
