HOCKEY: Encouraging signs for Northlanders

Northland teams came away with plenty to build on after competing in their first national under-21 tournament for several years.

Both teams finished in eighth and last place but showed encouraging signs for the future development of u-21 sides after being allowed to enter in their own right this year. Formerly they were bundled in with North Harbour.

The Northland men didn't show up mentally for their final match against Central, fading to a 11-2 loss, but at least they had a good upset win over a highly rated Midlands team to take away from the tournament.

Meanwhile Northland women lost their final game of the competition to Central by an all too familiar single goal deficit 0-1.

"The girls were outstanding all week but unfortunately we couldn't get a win," coach Bevan Gibbes said.

The side contained two 15-year-olds and four u-18 reps as well as four guest players to shore up the side giving them just 15 players to use - two short of the 17 allowed.

The continual loss of players to university makes this age group a difficult one for Northland but Gibbes and men's coach Vicki Gribble both say the effort is worthwhile if Northland is to continue to punch above its weight at the national level.

None of the Northland players made the New Zealand selections but two Northland players currently playing for other provinces, Elley Miller and Brooke Neal, both made the women's squad.