HOCKEY - Hockey victory raises hopes

A double strike by veteran Tarranah Vette helped Northland defeat Southern 3-0 yesterday to remain in contention for a place in the final of the National Hockey League in Auckland on Sunday.
Vette struck two goals in the first half from the same penalty corner variation and when Jade McLeod tipped in another penalty corner from a Laura Douglas strike just before halftime, the game was all but over. The win gives the team a bit more breathing space ahead of their must-win match against old rivals Auckland tomorrow.
Under this year's tournament format, Northland needs to secure either first or second place at the completion of the round robin to make the final or playoff for the minor positions.
"We're now in a position where we have to rely on another team to knock over one of our competitors if we're going to get into the final," coach Grant McLeod said.
The worst the team can do is take the field on Sunday to play for fifth and sixth place. A playoff for third and fourth is more likely however.
Northland almost had the result it wanted yesterday when Midlands were being held 2-2 with less than five minutes to play, but the Hamilton-based team got up to get the winner with two minutes to go to dash the Northland team's hopes. Midlands, North Harbour and Auckland are the other teams still with hopes of reaching the finals and in the cut and thrust of tournament hockey, anything could happen.
McLeod said leadership roles played by Vette, Douglas, Jasmin McQuinn and Anna Thorpe could not be downplayed this week. Thorpe continued to turn heads at the competition and he had little doubt that the national selectors will have noted her form.
"I've had a lot of feedback from hockey people all week about her direct approach. She gets in the circle and she's going to have a shot and I think if they were picking the squad at this tournament, then she'd definitely be in the mix."
Northland men showed some of their true grit yesterday after fighting back from a 0-5 first half deficit against title hopefuls Canterbury, to finish with a more flattering 3-6 scoreline at full-time. Northland scored through David Heappey, Toby Peacock and Brad McLeod.
Earlier in the week, Northland won their first match in the competition with a 3-2 win over Southern, a feat they may have to repeat on Sunday to avoid the wooden spoon, the unwanted trophy they have earned for the past two years.