KEY POINTS:
Wellington teams had a day to forget as upsets added spice to openinground matches in the National Hockey League at Lloyd Elsmore Park yesterday.
The defending women's champions were unceremoniously dumped 5-0 by last year's wooden spooners Auckland. An hour later the Manoj Daji-coached Wellington men also came unstuck _ beaten 3-2 by unfancied Central _ in a game they were tipped to win easily.
Fancied women's contenders Central had to work hard against the young Northland side before holding on to win 2-1. Angela Croad and Black Stick Tara Drysdale, with a reverse stick stunner late in the first spell, scored for Central. Anna Thorpe scored to keep Northland in the game.
Without stalwart Suzie Pearce, Wellington lacked all-important midfield control against a rejuvenated Auckland side for whom former Black Stick and Canterbury striker Honor Dillon scored twice, as did Katie Glynn. Jess Bagley added the other for Auckland who led 3-0 at the break.
Gareth Brooks, now with Wellington after playing in Auckland in recent seasons, did his best to spark his team but could not hold off a Central XI who stunned the capital city side when Nick Wilson snatched the late winner with a reverse stick shot.
Matt L'Huillier, with a cracking drag flick, and Australian legend Brent Livermore, also with a drag flick, scored for Wellington who will now look forward to this afternoon's game against Northland to get their title quest back on course.
Defending men's champions North Harbour took time to find their best against Northland but, led by midfielder Bryce Collins, they built into the game and led 3-0 at halftime.
In the end they made no race of it winning 8-1 in posting the day's biggest winning margin although Canterbury, led by an Isaac Staples hat-trick, beat Southern 9-3.
The North Harbour women made hard work of it before emerging 3-2 winners over old rivals Canterbury.
A goal from Pip Lloyd in the last minute of the spell gave Harbour their halftime 1-0 lead. They eventually found better form to take three valuable points. Led by a strong game from defender Amanda Green, they held out the southerners who closed to 2-3 late in the second spell.
In the late game Auckland men beat Midlands 2-1.
Today's standout matches should be Midlands against Auckland (women) and North Harbour v Auckland (men) while in tomorrow's action North Harbour women meet Central and, in two much-anticipated men's games, old rivals Auckland and Canterbury clash at 2pm and Wellington play Midlands four hours later.
