Hockey: Aucklanders dip out of semifinals

The once-mighty Auckland women's hockey team have failed to reach the national league semifinals for the first time.

They needed a good win over North Harbour at Rosedale Park last night to defend their record of never finishing outside the top three in the five years of the Lion Foundation League, but lost 2-0.

Wellington qualified top, but dropped their first points of the season in being held 2-2 by bottom-placed Northland.

Canterbury, 4-0 winners over Manawatu, finished second and will play North Harbour in one semifinal tomorrow. Wellington meet Manawatu in the other.

The Wellington men finished pool play with a flourish, beating Northland 4-0, with Phillip Burrows scoring a hat-trick.

In the key game, North Harbour beat Auckland 2-1 and finished fourth semifinalist.