Hockey: Northland make it to top four

Unsung Northland quickly shrugged off their bridesmaid tag by pulling off an upset 2-0 win over Wellington in second-round men's National League action in Wellington yesterday.

After holding the highly favoured Canterbury to just one goal in the second half in going down 4-1 in the first round on Saturday, the northerners returned to hand the hosts an embarrassing loss and end the weekend in the top four.

First-half goals to guest player Iain Davidson and Mark Thorne (who had also scored in the game against Canterbury) had Northland in control.

A strong second-half effort deservedly secured the points for the team who finished last last year.

Auckland scored two big wins without conceding a goal to hit the front after their weekend double-header.

The Keith Rowley-coached, Wayne McIndoe-led Aucklanders swamped Southern 7-0 first up and returned for their delayed game yesterday to beat Central 5-0 after turning 0-0.

Stunning reverse stick shots from youngsters Simon Child and Hamish Brown added the shine to Auckland's weekend, which has seen them emerge as the team to beat.

Defending champions North Harbour hit the ground running. They overcame a tentative first half against Central to win their Saturday opener 5-1 and yesterday, after falling a goal behind to a dubious stroke in the opening minutes, swamped Southern 8-1.

Somewhat ironically, Australian defender Zac Howes leads their goal-scoring list with three while David Kosoof, the top goal-scorer in last year's NHL, has yet to score.

The wet weather, which yesterday washed out the scheduled men's match between Canterbury and Midlands, also cost defending women's champions Central their chance of playing the scheduled fourth round clash with Midlands.

The Canterbury women followed up their 6-1 romp against Auckland with a 2-0 win over the spirited Northland youngsters yesterday.

The win, which kept Canterbury at the top of the table, was achieved with a goal in each half in a match slowed by water on the turf.

Field goals, one in each half to Aimee Heaps and Honor Dillon (her third), got Canterbury home.

Southern delivered on the promise they had shown on the opening weekend with a 1-1 draw against Northland and an even more satisfying 2-1 win over Auckland yesterday.

Despite enjoying a greater share of possession, Auckland struggled to score. After going to the break at 1-1, Jess Bagley broke the deadlock with her 46th penalty corner strike to leave Auckland a lonely last and pointless after four rounds.

With Canterbury, Central and Wellington almost certainly assured of top four play-off spots, Southern, North Harbour and Northland are likely to fight for the remaining spot.

The key clash could come in Whangarei on October 2 when Northland host North Harbour.

After holding Central to a respectable 4-3 on Saturday, North Harbour conceded two goals in going down 2-0 to Wellington yesterday.