By TERRY MADDAFORD
Long-time rivals Auckland and Canterbury meet in the next round of the national women's league to sort out who will have home advantage for the final on October 13.
Both teams posted narrow but decisive wins yesterday - Auckland 5-3 over Manawatu away and Canterbury 2-1 over Wellington
at home - to continue their neck and neck struggle at the top of the Lion Foundation-sponsored league table.
They meet in Auckland on September 30, with the winners certain to take round-robin honours.
Led by an Anna Lawrence hat-trick in the first half, Auckland raced to 5-1 two minutes into the second spell in Palmerston North, although the home side clawed a couple back to gain some respectability.
Wellington stung Canterbury when Janeen Playle opened the scoring in the 19th minute, but Raijiele Walker scored the equaliser eight minutes before halftime. Amanda Christie notched the winner in the 64th minute.
North Harbour continued their best season with a 3-1 away win over Otago.
Defender Lizzy Igasan scored one in each half, both from penalty corners, as the visitors gained their second win in three outings.
In the men's league, North Harbour continue to set the pace.
Down a goal inside a minute when Blair Hopping opened the scoring for Midland Express in Hamilton, North Harbour hit back quickly with Andrew Kay playing the ball across the face of the goal and Stuart Sutherland tapped home.
Two goals from man-of-the-match David Kosoof to one from Midland's Shaun Bennet had the visitors 3-2 ahead at halftime.
North Harbour completed the scoring with goals from Kay and Sutherland in the last five minutes.
Ryan Archibald grabbed a couple for Auckland in their 6-0 romp over Northland in Whangarei to leave the home side without a point.
Auckland remain a point back in second, but face Canterbury and Wellington in their remaining round-robin matches.
In Wellington, the home side continued Canterbury's woes, scoring twice in each half to win 4-2.
James Nation, Wayne McIndoe, Mitesh Patel and Umesh Parag scored one each for the winners and Hayden Shaw got both for the visitors.
