Hockey: Specialist rises to the Challenge

Suzie Muirhead and the Wellington team. Picture / Ben Campbell

There was an air of inevitability in Canterbury's 2-1 win over Auckland in the men's national league final in Christchurch yesterday.

After playing 47 minutes without conceding a penalty corner and sending the game into sudden-death extra time, the visitors stumbled.

Up stepped Hayden Shaw. In a thrice it was all over as he dragged low to Paul Woolford's right and turned to join his team-mates in celebrating Canterbury's first Challenge Shield triumph in 10 years.

The final, between the oldest rivals in New Zealand hockey, did not reach great heights as both teams at times appeared over-cautious, even tentative.

To their credit, Auckland set out to deny the home side scoring opportunities, especially in restricting Canterbury to just four penalty corners.

In scoring from two, it was mission accomplished for Canterbury who bounced back from 5-3 losses to Auckland and North Harbour a week earlier.

Jason Bradley gave Canterbury the lead in the seventh minute after a rebound from a Shaw drag flick.

The visitors equalised 10 minutes into the second spell when captain Wayne McIndoe dived full-length to stab a loose ball home as he crashed into goalkeeper Michael Bevin.

There was no further scoring. Auckland went closest with a couple of half chances until Shaw settled it.

In comparison, the women's final, between Canterbury and Wellington, was a goalfest with the visitors going ahead 2-0 after 18 minutes.

They fell 2-3 behind after 47 but fought back to score three in four minutes to lead 5-3 with 10 to play and counted down the clock to take the honours.

The North Harbour women, fourth qualifiers for the semifinals, had a good weekend. After losing captain and influential defender Paula Enoka early in their semifinal, they eventually lost 1-0 to Wellington who scored from a penalty corner nine minutes after the break.

Harbour continued that good form yesterday to come back from a goal down to last year's champions, Central, to win 2-1 with a penalty corner success from guest player Peta Gallagher and a field goal winner from Jaimee Provan in the 49th minute.

The North Harbour men, knocked out of contention when thrashed 5-0 by Canterbury in Saturday's semifinals, were back at the turf at 7am yesterday for the third-fourth play-off with Wellington who had lost their semifinal to Auckland.

Wellington led 2-0 after seven minutes before Simon Brill and David Kosoof got Harbour back to 2-2 at halftime. Kosoof's second gave them the lead in a see-saw affair which eventually ended 4-4.

Extra time failed to produce a goal but three woeful penalty stroke attempts ended Harbour's hopes as Wellington converted three from four to take the honours.

Northland men beat Midlands 8-3 to take fifth (and the plate) while Central took the wooden spoon after losing 6-1 to Southern.