Men's hockey: Winning mentality the key

Mangapai aiming to continue strong form

Men's hockey comes to the forefront of Northland sport this weekend as the season suddenly becomes serious with semi-finals taking place.

The table-topping Mangapai team is looking to continue their strong form over recent weeks, with coach Mark Thorne saying there is not really a winning formula but more a winning mentality ahead of tomorrow's game against Maungakaramea.

"It's going to be a pretty even game," Thorne commented on his side's match up against the second placed Maungakaramea team. "It's going to be about who can finish their opportunities and who's willing to put in the extra yards to win it.

"When it comes down to finals hockey, as much as you want it to be a nice flowing game and you want everything to work, it's simple stuff that will win.

"Generally finals tend to get quite scrappy, and it's just a fact that you've got to win the fight."

Thorne will be expecting his senior players to be putting their hands up and leading from the front, showing their younger players the way to win a semi-final.

"We've been in a few scrappy games this year and come out on top, and when it comes to final hockey you call on your experienced players and help out the younger guys when the pressure comes on."

For supporters heading along, expect to see the same style of Mangapai hockey which has helped Thorne's side put away 42 goals in their 15 games this season.

Meanwhile in the second semi-final, fourth placed Springfield will be looking at tipping over the third placed Bream Bay side.

Springfield coach Lloyd Gurr commented that even though essentially all of the men's premier teams are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs, his side did not have a mentality of not caring about winning until this weekend.

"That sort of mentality comes around later in the season if results are not going your way," Gurr said. "But, we don't like losing. The last few games have been disappointing losing so this weekend we'll have a chance to put it right.

"We started off the season really well, we were undefeated in first five or six games but we lacked a bit of concentration.

"Lately we've just had an unfortunate streak of results.

"This week and last week was just about trying to get ready for play-offs."

Gurr said his side's main concern was beefing up their defence after they had let an uncharacteristically high number of goals through in the last month, while at the same time looking to contain Bream Bay's livewire front men.

"They're a mixed structure they have and the speed up front, some of the youngsters have a lot pace and skill up front and that's something we've got to try and contain."

The winner of the Mangapai v Maungakaramea game automatically goes through to the final in two weeks' time, while the loser gets a second chance by taking on the winner of the Springfield and Bream Bay clash next weekend.

Tomorrow's games: Bream Bay v Springfield, 3.20pm; Maungakaramea v Mangapai, 4.50pm.