HOCKEY: Tight comp in Northland premier women's league

Gilmore Brown Springfield's and ChillTech Old Girls 2-2 draw in the top of the table clash did not shuffle the standings around, but it did prove how tight the Northland premier women's league is this season.
Springfield tried to repeat their round one 2-1 win over Old Girls, but could not maintain their pressure for the entire match.
They dominated the first half however, with Jodie Nichol scoring first, tapping in what was a good team goal in the opening minutes.
Towards the end of the first half, Old Girls started to exert more pressure on Springfield's goal circle and thought they had touched the ball into goal, but the umpire disallowed it.
Immediately following a long corner, Old Girls were conceded a penalty corner, which Tarannah Vette scored from, levelling the score.
But Springfield instantly replied with a goal from Jacinda McLeod who replaced absent Black Stick Alana Millington at centre half. Springfield were also without starting players Kelly Dempster and Amy Batten, while Old Girls made do without Black Stick Laura Douglas, and key defender Elley Miller who was sidelined with injury (quad).
Springfield held on to their 2-1 lead until Old Girls slotted another goal to close the gap again 15 minutes out from full time.
"It was a well contested battle without any dirty play that certainly had Alan [Lints, Old Girls coach] and myself up on our feet on more than one occasion," Springfield coach Angeline Waetford said.
Meanwhile, the high school teams started to show some form with Whangarei Girls' High School providing the upset of the round, with a 2-1 won over Maungakaramea. The win leaves WGHS tied on 10 points with Maungakaramea.
Cellar-dwellers Kamo High School also put up a good fight against fifth placed Hikurangi, to restrict them to just a 1-0 victory.
In the men's premier competition, it was another top of the table and tied up clash, with Bream Bay United drawing 2-2 with Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea.
About 20 minutes into the game, Bream Bay's Mike Scott finally broke through the defence and slotted the ball. Maungakaramea's Sam Webb equalised in the second half, with a drag flick before repeating the effort again minutes later to put his team into the lead. Bream Bay fought back into the game, piling on the pressure until they wore down Maungakaramea's circle defence and Scott tapped his second goal in to draw the game.
Currie Electrical Springfield nabbed the other upset of the round - and their first win of the season, defeating Mangapai 1-0. Bream Bay remain on top of the table, seven points ahead of Maungakaramea. Mangapai are in third spot, five points ahead of the fourth placed Springfield men.