Hockey: Thrilling finals loom

By TERRY MADDAFORD

North Harbour and Auckland will host the men's and women's national hockey league finals after another weekend of upsets and close encounters.

The Auckland women had their closest call of the season but held on to beat Wellington 1-0 at Lloyd Elsmore Park yesterday to complete section play with a perfect five-from-five record.

They will return to their East Auckland home on Saturday for another battle with perennial rivals and Lion Foundation League titleholders Canterbury.

Dannaka Dorrington scored inside a minute but Auckland were unable to add to that in the remaining 69 minutes. The visitors forced more penalty corners than the home side but without success.

Caryn Paewai and Suzie Pearce showed out for Wellington while Sandy Bennett had a strong defensive game for Auckland.

Canterbury made sure they would play the final with a solid 6-1 away win over Otago. Inspired by a hat-trick in the first half from Raijieli Walker, Canterbury raced to 5-0 inside 30 minutes.

But a resolute Otago conceded just one goal - to an Anna Lawrence penalty corner - in the second spell and got one of their own through Colleen Gubb.

Otago will be back at their place next weekend for the fifth-sixth playoff with North Harbour who went down 1-6 to Manawatu in Palmerston North. Melody Rowe grabbed three for the home side who led 4-0 at halftime.

Michele Roscoe got one back for Harbour. However, it was too little too late for a side who have shown some promise but have failed to deliver and must now lift themselves for the playoffs if they are to avoid relegation.

The men's race is down to three teams, with Northland and Auckland in an arm wrestle to find North Harbour's opponent in the May 20 final at Rosedale Park.

Northland, beaten 2-3 by Harbour in a tense clash on Saturday, have finished their programme with eight points - one ahead of Auckland and Wellington.

Auckland must, at worst, draw their game against Midland Express in Hamilton next weekend to edge their way into the final against a resurgent Harbour side.

Auckland, dumped on their backsides 1-3 by old rivals Canterbury - their first win of the season - will find the Kevin Towns-coached combined (Waikato-Counties Manukau) side no easy-beats.

Both Midland Express and Wellington went into the game at Pukekohe yesterday holding some hope of reaching the final. Those hopes were dashed when they played out a 1-1 draw. Winning the penalty stroke tiebreaker was no help to Wellington and ended the dream for Midland Express.