Hockey: Tough tourney for U21s

Northland junior men's side are undergoing a baptism of fire at the national under-21 tournament at Gallagher Hockey Centre in Hamilton.

Northland have been humbled in all their pool matches, 7-0 by Southern on Monday, 5-0 by Capital on Tuesday and 7-1 by North Harbour yesterday, but coach Vicki Gribble says it isn't all bad news and the side can still finish as high as fifth in the tournament with three matches to play.

"We're regarding ourselves as something of a miracle team because we didn't think we'd be able to get a men's under-21 side," she said.

"There are probably six or so local players that have the ability and experience to be here. The others are just out of under-18s, so at least that bodes well for us in the years to come."

It is the first time in 15 years that Northland has had full representation at the national under-21 tournament. In previous years, Northland players were selected to play for a Northern side, alongside players from North Harbour.

This year, Northland and North Harbour are competing as separate entities.

Northland played their best hockey in the second spell of the game against Harbour, holding their former teammates to a 1-1 draw after trailing 0-6 at the break.

The side are targeting the first crossover match tomorrow against the bottom team of pool B as their biggest test.

The Northland under-21 women have been much more competitive at the tournament so far. They lost their first game on Monday 1-3 to North Harbour, with an early loss of concentration costing them dearly.

They were two goals down in the first 10 minutes before finding some rhythm, with Chelsea Beasley reducing the deficit to a single goal by halftime.

The second spell was more even but Harbour were the team to break the deadlock and win the game.

Northland were on the back foot again on Tuesday after conceding an early goal to Capital.

Wellington dominated the first half and the majority of the match except for a brief spell after the break, during which Hannah Hill equalised from a penalty corner.

Capital scored again but Northland coach Bevan Gibbs said they might have scored more but for the efforts of goalkeeper Brooke Roberts.

But in the end, Gibbs said, Capital were fortunate to take all the points when they pulled off Roberts in a last-ditch effort to equalise, with a couple of Northland scoring chances going close.

Yesterday Northland completed pool play against Canterbury, losing 0-4.