Hockey: Patience pays off in 4-1 victory

Maungakaramea recovered from a slow start to beat Springfield 4-1 in the final round of the premier men's hockey competition.

Springfield scored early in the match through James Watene before Maungakaramea got back on track and evened the score shortly afterwards, thanks to a deft deflection from Cameron Hellier.

Maungakaramea used a good passing game to hold the ball and put pressure on the Springfield defence from which Steven Nink converted to give his side the lead.

A penalty corner goal from Bronson Baker gave Maungakaramea a 3-1 buffer before halftime.

Maungakaramea player-coach Sam Webb admitted his side wasn't perfect for the entire match saying, "There was a lot of really good bits but still some average stuff in patches."

Webb added that his team "had to work on not panicking when things aren't quite going our way; if we can keep knocking the ball around, then the result will come".

Nink scored his second goal early in the second half before both teams started to tire, a trait Webb admits his side needs to rectify before finals.

In the other premier men's match, Mangapai beat Bream Bay United 8-2 and will take on Maungakaramea next week for a place in the final.

In the premier women's competition, top of the table Old Girls beat Mangapai 5-0 after being 0-all at halftime while Maungakaramea beat Hikurangi 3-0.

Despite a frantic finish, second and third placed sides Whangarei Girls' High School and Springfield battled out a 2-all draw.