Two up, two down for Northland men

With a mix of young and experienced players, Rosvall ITM Northland men set out to improve on their string of seventh and eighth placings in the National Hockey League over recent years.
It was no easy task playing heavyweights Auckland and the defending champions North Harbour in the first two rounds.
Coach Mike Delaney and assistant Vicki Gribble gathered a group of 13 new players. Wellington's Greg Paynter joined the squad for his third NHL campaign with Northland, and had a busy first stint in goal on Saturday, going up against an Auckland side who are determined to challenge for pole position this year after an average fifth place in 2009.
A comprehensive and clinical performance from Auckland saw them win 7-0.
Northland had their chances in the first half and looked competitive, but Auckland absorbed the pressure.
The well-drilled Auckland unit quickly began to control the game when Dwayne Rowsell and Joseph Crooks slotted a goal each in the 14th and 16th minutes.
Auckland led 3-0 at halftime, but then the game became a one-sided affair, with Northland spending most of the second spell on defence.
Northland struggled to get through Auckland's tight defence and Auckland continued to attack rigorously throughout the game, with Rowsell scoring his second goal along with Crooks.
Adam McCelland also bagged two goals, while Steven O'Connor added one to his team's seven-goal haul.
At North Harbour Hockey Stadium yesterday however, Northland fought hard to put Saturday's loss behind them when they took on North Harbour.
The first half was full of helter-skelter action.
North Harbour was on top with two quick goals in the ninth minute. The first went to Shay Neal and the second to Ben Collier - which was a stunning shot - and immediately Northland were on the back foot.
The side from North Shore maintained the pressure, extending the lead in the 21st minute when youngster and debutant George Muir netted his first NHL goal.
Trailing 3-0, Northland needed to be the next scorers in the second spell and in the 40th minute they begun the fightback when Josh Tattley found the back of the goal, to score Northland's first of the tournament.
Northland again caught out North Harbour as ill-discipline cost the local team. Northland capitalised on this, and Duncan Pearce was the benefactor at a penalty corner.
As the scrappy game drew to a close North Harbour had a final chance right on time, when Neal netted from a penalty corner for his second goal of the match in the 70th minute to make a rather flattering 4-2 scoreline for the hosts. Northland play Central, who finished in eighth spot last year, in round three next Saturday.