Indoor hockey: Triple indoor honours for Aucklanders

The United Indoor Hockey Tournament was held at the Sportsdrome at the weekend, pictured is Western from Auckland (red) up against Waitakere in the mixed division. PHOTO/GARY HAMILTON-IRVINE

It's what every team looks forward to - an end-of-season trip.

The United Indoor Hockey Tournament was held at the Sportsdrome in Rotorua at the weekend, attracting 78 hockey teams from across the North Island.

The popular end-of-season tournament has been running for 49 years in Rotorua and will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

While there was a serious side to proceedings, most of the seven-a-side teams were just happy to have a good time, with some teams sporting interesting uniforms like tutus.

There was also a healthy amount of chilly bins dotted around the grandstands, as the players made the most of the weekend tournament.

Organiser Jennie Taylor said the tournament had a great backing, with plenty of teams coming back each year.

"It actually started as a women's representative tournament but because that sort of fizzled they just held it as a women's tournament."

Over the years the tournament has expanded to include men's and mixed teams as well.

"Auckland is where we get most of our teams from plus King Country, Tauranga, Palmerston North and a few from Rotorua and Taupo," she said. "Most of the teams use it for their end-of-season break-up."

Taylor, who has organised the big event for 35 years, said it was the only indoor hockey competition in Rotorua.

The finals in each grade were held yesterday, with TMNT (Auckland) winning the women's A grade and Rotorua Aces finishing runners-up.

In the men's grade, Rotorua United finished runners-up to TMNT (Auckland) who also won the mixed grade, making it a rare triple.

Interestingly, all 129 games on Saturday and Sunday were played on one field, which covered all the floor space in the Sportsdrome.

Games ran like clockwork with each match lasting for 10 minutes.

Taylor said each team was guaranteed three games during the weekend, with more for teams that made semis and finals.