What a difference a year makes. Woodenspooners 12 months ago in the same tournament, the Hawke's Bay senior women returned to claim Central Hockey League bragging rights with a 4-2 victory against Manawatu, in Napier, yesterday.
"Yes, it's just fantastic to win. We finished last, last year," a delighted coach, Matthew Witheford, said after many of the same players returned to experience what it's like to go from zero to hero.
"We were under the pump but the players did some slick passing to score goals on the back of a team effort," Witheford said.
The Bay team had former Black Stick Caryn Paewai as captain, marshalling the troops from the midfield.
Witheford is expecting three to four of his women to make the Central Mystics side for the National Hockey League competition starting next month.