Maungakaramea wrap up sixth title in a row

Maungakaramea continued their stranglehold of Northland premier men's hockey securing their sixth consecutive title with a 4-2 win over Bream Bay United.

The men's clash was the climax of Saturday's Hockey Northland finals day at Rosvall ITM Stadium, and proved to be a thrilling encounter.

Minor premiers Maungakaramea fired early in the game, trying to get the better of the side who has been their closest rivals this season. Striker Nic Breslin found his stride quickly and kickstarted the scoring with a field goal after five minutes, giving Maungakaramea the early advantage.

They started to dominate Bream Bay and possession, and fired off another shot at goal, which Bream Bay goalie James Bailey stopped, but fortunately for Maungakaramea, inside left Alan Ford was waiting for the deflection and extended his side's lead.

The defending premiers slackened their defence momentarily and Bream Bay fought back. Keeley Johnson delivered a field goal and minutes later, Mike Scott equalised with a successful shot on goal from a penalty corner.

"It was a reasonably even first half. We dominated the first 15 minutes and then Bream Bay probably had us in the second 15. The game was there for the taking," Maungakaramea's Graeme Bint said.

In the second spell, both sides had their chances, but only Maungakaramea capitalised on theirs, with Bint slotting a goal from a penalty corner deflection late in the half, and Breslin striking his second goal of the game with only minutes remaining. Breslin was named Player of the Day for his high work rate.

Meanwhile, Springfield defeated Mangapai 5-0 in the play off for third and fourth spot, on Friday night.

In the premier women's final, defending champions and this year's minor premiers Old Girls took charge of their final clash with Maungakaramea and claimed their third consecutive title, under the tutelage of Alan Lints.

"After a convincing six week run by the girls, there was some apprehension in the team when we first started," Lints said.

However, the nerves quickly dispersed when Laura Douglas dished out the first goal from a penalty corner after 15 minutes and the team gained back their composure.

However, two minutes later, Maungakaramea's Jane Thompson found the back of the goal to equalise.

Not to be outdone, Old Girls started to assert their dominance and play their style of counter attack hockey.

Striker Melissa Simpson scored to put her side ahead once again, and she was backed up by Jess Macalister.

With five minutes to go in the first half, Georgia Miller extended Old Girls' lead to 4-1, putting them in the box seat at the break. Maungakaramea's game plan to disrupt Old Girls' free-flowing game worked in parts of the second half but they could not stop their scoring spree. Julie Crumm found the back of the goal, and Simpson capped off a stellar season with her second goal of the final, breaking through Maungakaramea's defence. Lints commended the efforts of Simpson along with Miller and striker Nicola McDonell-Kelly during the match, which he said was not the prettiest of fixtures, but was a convincing victory nonetheless.

In the reserve grade finals, Mangapai women defeated Hikurangi 3-0, while Whangarei Boys High School beat Mid Northern 4-2 to claim the men's title.

Division one men Springfield C had a narrow 2-1 loss to Mangapai C, while Maungakaramea secured the women's division one final, winning 4-2 against Whangarei Girls High School Royal.

Bream Bay fought an intense and close division two women's final, which went into extra time, against Old Girls.

Bream Bay had the final say, winning 5-2 after strokes, while in the men's division two final, Hora Hora pipped Mangapai 2-1.