Hockey: Crunch time for Harbour side

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The pressure is on North Harbour coach Manoj Daji and his team ahead of today's third round of the national league.

Winners two seasons ago and beaten in extra time by Auckland in last year's final, Harbour go into this afternoon's home game against Midland Express at Rosedale Park without a point and having scored just one goal while conceding nine in two outings.

The Waikato-based Express side will be no pushover. They beat Northland 4-0 last week - and Northland beat North Harbour pre-season.

While North Harbour have struggled defensively, they have also failed up front. Last season, David Kosoof and Andrew Kay were the Lion Foundation-sponsored league's top-scorers but have failed to fire in two matches this season.

In the game of the round, Canterbury are at home to Wellington.

Canterbury, spearheaded by drag-flick expert Hayden Shaw, have won two from two to lead Auckland on goal difference.

Wellington went down 2-3 to Auckland last week and should press Canterbury.

Auckland are in Whangarei and should be too strong for Northland, who have failed to score in two games.

In a second Canterbury-Wellington battle in Christchurch, the Wellington women will be out to continue a strong start that has them unbeaten at the top of the table with a 10-1 goal count.

In other women's games, Auckland will be looking for something better at home against Manawatu after losing 3-0 to Wellington, and North Harbour will be hoping the home advantage against Waikato might lift them off the bottom of the table.