Hockey: Mavericks eye run home

Central Mavericks player Martin Atkinson (green) competes for the ball. Photo / Tania Whyte

When the smoke drifted from the turf in the hockey shootout yesterday, the Central Mavericks were left spluttering but they didn't come away empty-handed in Whangarei.

The Brad Jensen and Greg Nicol-coached side claimed a vital point in a 2-1 shootout loss to North Harbour after the sides were locked 3-all in regulation time, but that point could be the difference in how the playoffs shape up in the Ford National Hockey (NHL) League this week.

"We still get a point. Losing the shootout is very disappointing but we'll have the extra point," Mavericks captain Joe Hanks said yesterday as they settled on the third rung of the NHL ladder with seven points from a win, a winning draw and two losing draws to date.

Defender-midfielder Hanks lamented three neck-and-neck quarters before losing their way a little in the final spell after Matt Young and Brennan Alexander-Parker's field goals put Central up 2-1 in the 49th minute. But then Harbour's penalty corner merchant, Cory Bennett, found the net immediately, adding to his opening goal in similar fashion.

North Harbour went 3-2 ahead from Robbie Capizzi in the 57th minute before Martin Atkinson levelled at 3-all three minutes later to push the game into a shootout.

Only Young scored in the 10-shot tradeoff for Central as Mac Wilcox, Dylan Thomas, Hanks and Atkinson failed to convert.

Hanks applauded goalkeeper Aaron Ball for making a couple of crucial saves in the shootout to keep them in the hunt.

"We keep improving with every game and we're getting close to the top four," said the 26-year-old from Waipukurau who played for the Akina Rovers men's club team in the Bay.

He now flies the colours of Mt Roskill Eden while pursuing a degree in sport and exercise at the Auckland University of Technology.

Central lost 3-1 to Canterbury on Saturday with Johnny Thorn scoring a field goal for them.

Hanks said the Cantabs were a strong unit this year after not doing so well last season.

"This year they have kept pretty much the same squad so it's like round two for them and they are very tough."

The Mavericks were down 1-0 in just the ninth minute from a field goal and then trailed 2-0 after conceding a penalty corner in the 57th minute. Thorn scored a field goal a minute later before Richard Bain's don't-argue field goal instantaneously.

"We definitely had our chances go ahead but we might have lacked a bit of concentration towards the end of the game."

The other Bay players in the Mavericks are Alexander-Parker, Ball, Sam Hiha, Robert Creffier, Oscar Stewart and Thomas.

The Capital Cobras, who are defending champions, did Central a favour when they thumped Auckland 7-1 yesterday to sit two points below in fourth place.

The Mavericks play winless hosts Northland tomorrow before crossing sticks with Auckland on Friday after a two-day break.

"With the rest, we should be fresher than Auckland who have just one scheduled rest day," said Hanks, emphasising Central had played all the gritty teams above them on the ladder and now play those below them.

"The Bay boys are enjoying the sun here so it's no biggie for us and the lads are all getting on well."

Undefeated Canterbury are setting the pace with Harbour below them on two wins.

The winless Central Mysticks women drew 1-1 with Canterbury Cats and lost 2-1 to Harbour and are sitting fifth on the table.

Mysticks drew first blood via skipper Michaela Curtis (16th minute) but Harbour hit back twice.

Defending champions Auckland were the big movers after round four, perched on the second rung of the ladder to trail two points behind North Harbour.