Hockey: Red-letter weekend for capital

Wellington's triumphant sporting weekend continued with double success in the national hockey league finals in the capital yesterday.

Outplayed by Auckland for much of the men's final of the Lion Foundation National League, Wellington struck three times in nine minutes in the second spell.

They then held on to win 3-1 to complete the double, which was set up by the women's 3-0 win over Canterbury.

That followed the exciting Wellington victory over Waikato in rugby's NPC first division semifinal on Friday night.



The Auckland XI were quick to shut down Wellington and nullify the threat posed by Australian Brent Livermore and New Zealand player-of-the-year and Wellington captain Phillip Burrows.

Ryan Archibald was outstanding for Auckland, controlling their go-forward expertly and linking well with front-runners Taine Bennett and Troy and Bevan Hari.

From the only penalty corner they won in the first spell - Auckland won the match's penalty corner count 6-2 - Bennett got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble to give the visitors the 28th-minute lead.

Auckland were all over the home side from the outset of the second spell. Wellington withstood the pressure and in the 51st minute mounted the victory charge.

Three goals - all from open play - to Burrows, Umesh Parag and Umesh Hari sank Auckland's hopes and sparked the double celebration for the teams who finished their seven-match seasons unbeaten.

Wellington's women gave the home crowd the start they wanted with their exciting win over Canterbury.

The visitors held the upper hand in the first spell but failed to turn half chances into goals.

Canterbury, with player-of-the-year Di Weavers controlling the defence, gave the Wellington attack nothing, with their best chance coming in the 29th minute when midfielder Suzie Pearce found space in front of goal, but pushed her attempt wide.

Stacey Carr went closest for Canterbury when she got in behind the Wellington defence but fired her shot on to the post.

Despite Wellington lagging 6-3 in the penalty count, there was always the feeling that they would strike.

In a 13-minute burst from the 50th minute, Niniwa Roberts-Lang scored three times.

North Harbour's Connie Igasan scored a hat-trick in Harbour's 8-1 win over Manawatu in the play-off for third after they had lost to Canterbury and Wellington respectively in Saturday's semifinals.