Maungakaramea book final spot

A dominant performance over Bream Bay United saw Dempster and Hill Electrical Maungakaramea secure a final's berth in the Northland Men's Premier hockey competition.

After finishing at the top of the table after the round robin games, Maungakaramea carried their momentum into Saturday's semifinal to defeat their closest rivals 5-1.

They proved too strong for Bream Bay, who had matched them throughout the season. Bream Bay won two of their four encounters in the round robin competition, while Maungakaramea won one, and the teams drew the other match.

Maungakaramea got straight down to business, with Paul Snelling delivering the first blow, executing a well-timed individual goal early in the match.

Skipper Sam Webb backed up his effort with a successful penalty corner, and then extended their lead by deflecting another penalty corner and finding the goal.

Bream Bay fought back hard towards the end of the first half, and were rewarded with a goal by Keeley Johnson. Leading 3-1 at the break, Maungakaramea had their tails up in the second half, and dominated their opposition. They kept Bream Bay scoreless in the second spell, but extended their lead with Snelling grabbing his second and Kurt Ford shooting a successful goal from the wing.

Fill-in Maungakaramea goalie Mike Sullivan did a superb job, keeping the desperate Bream Bay shots on goal out, helping his team to a final's berth on October 1 at Rosvall ITM Stadium.

Maungakaramea will sit next week out, though player Graeme Bint said the team will train through to keep their momentum going, while Bream Bay will get a second crack at making the finals this weekend.

Bream Bay will play Mangapai, who defeated Springfield in their play off on Saturday, 3-1.

In the women's premier competition, minor premiers Old Girls confidently beat Kamo High School 11-1 in the first round of playoffs, with Melissa Simpson starring for her team, finding the goal five times.

Whangarei Girls High lost to Maungakaramea 4-1, and Gilmore Brown Springfield defeated Hikurangi 2-0 - meaning Old Girls play WGHS and Maungakaramea face Springfield in Saturday's semifinals, with the winners of each game progressing through to the October 1 final.