Hockey: Maungakaramea leave it late against WGHS

Jackie Lints winds up for the hit for Old Girl's. Photo / Michael Cunningham

It took until the second period of extra time for Maungakaramea to clinch the win 2-1 over a spirited Whangarei Girls' High School side in their premier women's hockey playoff on Saturday.

Maungakaramea went up early in the match when Natasha Cotton converted their first penalty corner chance.

The lead seemed to unsettle the Maungakaramea side and Girls' High played to their strengths to stay right in the game.

Old Girl's Charleen Adams looks on during her side's match against Mangapai. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Using pace and skill, Girls' High had plenty of opportunity on attack during the high intensity match but the Maungakaramea defence scrambled well to keep them out.

Maungakaramea coach Kirsten Forrester said "Girls' High certainly stepped up and they didn't allow us to play our game."

At times Maungakaramea struggled to keep possession when exiting their defence and that allowed Girls' High to keep the pressure on. They eventually converted a penalty stroke late in the game to level the scores and force golden goal extra time.

Dropping two players and playing nine-a-side for seven minutes, Maungakaramea adapted to the new structure better and had a couple of near misses.

It was in the second period of extra time and down to seven players each that Maungakaramea were awarded a penalty stroke which Ella Gunson stepped up to convert.

The win means Maungakaramea will face Springfield in next week's semifinal after Springfield put on a dominant performance to beat Hikurangi 8-1 in their playoff.

Girls' High go through as the highest ranked losers and will face top seeds Old Girls who eased into the semifinals with a 10-0 win over Mangapai.

In the premier men's grade, Whangarei Boys' High School beat Bream Bay in their qualifier on Friday night to take the fourth semifinal spot alongside Maungakaramea, Springfield and Mangapai.