Hockey: Maungakaramea into final with late-half goals

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A goal at the end of each half saw Maungakaramea beat Springfield for the first time this year and advance to the Northland reserve men's hockey grand final.

The semifinal, between last year's finalists, was a close match and started at high intensity, with little separating each team for most of the first half.

Both teams used on-field talk to up the ante in the must win match and created some good opportunities in the first half, but scrambling defence meant neither team could score.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Maungakaramea were awarded a penalty corner as the halftime whistle sounded.

The corner was played out to Maungakaramea'a advantage as Travis Baker smashed home a direct shot from the top of the circle to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half was much the same as the first, with both keepers forced to make crucial saves in the Thursday night fixture.

Springfield pushed hard in the final minutes trying to find an equaliser, but it left young Maungakaramea striker Liam Mortimer unmarked in his attacking circle, and when a brilliant ball was fired in from wide, Mortimer was able to make a deft deflection to make the final score 2-0.

Maungakaramea captain Vaughan Gillingham was happy with his team's performance but knows they will have to step it up a notch for the final.

Maungakaramea will face Whangarei Boys' High School in the final on Saturday after they beat Mangapai 3-2 on Thursday night also.

In the reserve women's semi finals, Old Girls beat Maungakaramea while Hikurangi beat Whangarei Girls' High School to advance through to the final.