Hockey: Double header treat for fans

Tom Wickham is back for a second season with Auckland. Photo / Greg Bowker

It was not planned that way, but today is finals repeat day in the National League at North Harbour.

Defending champions Canterbury square off against the K Cup beaten finalists of 12 months ago, Auckland; about an hour later, Auckland will play Southern in the men's third round - replaying last year's Challenge Shield final, which Auckland won 2-1.

A neat piece of timing will therefore give spectators a double treat.

Auckland's men have suffered a blow, with the loss for the remainder of the NHL of Black Sticks striker Simon Child. A bad foot injury has ruled him out, however Auckland coach James Strong has brought Australian attacking midfielder Tom Wickham back as second import, alongside English international Simon Egerton.

Wickham scored the winning goal in last year's final for Auckland.

"Obviously Simon [Child] is one of the alltime best New Zealand forwards and any side is going to miss him," Grant said. "But we had contingency plans in place and bringing Tom over was one of them."

Wickham, who made his international debut for the Kookaburras against Korea in May, is looking forward to reuniting with the Auckland squad. Throw in a shared title in 2011 against Central, when the final was snowed off - Egerton was in the Central team that year - and Auckland are chasing a third straight crown.

"The hunger is still there for the boys. You've got to have a little bit of the mentality of having that pressure and wanting to back it up again," Wickham said.

Attacker Egerton, Manchester-born and a City fan in the soccer stronghold of England's north rates the NHL standard.

"This year there's a lot more imports coming in and the standard is a lot higher than two years ago. I knew the standard was going to be good and that's why I jumped at the chance to do it again," Egerton said.

North Harbour women will chase wins against two other sides still seeking their first points, Southern and Central; North Harbour men play Central, then a grudge clash with Auckland.

All teams have seven matches in the next nine days.

NHL weekend schedule (North Harbour)

Men: Third round, today: Midlands v Capital, 11am; Northland v Canterbury, 1pm; Central v North Harbour, 3pm; Auckland v Southern, 5pm

Fourth round, tomorrow: Central v Northland, 10.30am; Auckland v North Harbour, 12.30pm; Capital v Canterbury, 2.30pm; Midlands v Southern, 4.30pm

Women: Third round, today: Central v Northland, 10.30am; Midlands v Capital, 12.30pm; Auckland v Canterbury, 2.30pm; Southern v North Harbour, 4.30pm

Fourth round, tomorrow: Auckland v Capital, 11am; Canterbury v Northland, 1pm; Midlands v Southern, 3pm; Central v North Harbour, 5pm.

Points after two rounds: Men: Auckland, Southern 8, Capital, Canterbury, North Harbour, Midlands all 4, Central and Northland 0.

Women: Capital, Canterbury 8, Midlands 6, Auckland 5, Northland 4, Central, North Harbour, Southern 0.