Hockey: Auckland and Canterbury in stand-out form

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Unbeaten Auckland and Canterbury have shown out as the teams to beat after two-goal victories in the men's national league.

Auckland beat North Harbour 5-3 in a fast, open game at Lloyd Elsmore Park while Canterbury shook off the disadvantage of playing away from home to beat defending champions Wellington 2-0.

In the lower reaches of the points table Southern and Central picked up their first points with a 2-2 draw in Dunedin.

Northland too got among the Lion Foundation NHL points for the first time with their 3-3 home draw with Midlands.

Auckland started at a fire-cracker pace against North Harbour and went ahead inside five minutes when the Harbour defence gave the ball away at the top of the circle and David Samuels smacked home.

The visitors hit back three minutes later with a superb reverse stick shot from Lloyd Stephenson.

The tit-for-tat battle continued until the 20th minute when Taine Bennett pushed home to give Auckland their 3-2 halftime lead.

Dharmesh Puna and Bennett scored their second goals in the second half for 5-2 before Bryce Collins was rewarded with a solid game for North Harbour with a late strike.

North Harbour forced four penalty corners to Auckland's two but failed to convert any.

It was a different story for Canterbury.

After a scoreless first half, Dutch drag flick expert Taeke Taekema scored two in as many minutes in the opening three minutes of the second spell to give the visitors their 2-0 advantage. Taekema has scored 10 goals in four games - all from penalty corners - to take a clear lead in the goalscoring stakes.

The women's race remains tight with no team taking maximum points from the weekend.

After three rounds with no drawn games, yesterday's top of the table clashes produced two with North Harbour and Wellington fighting back from 0-2 to draw 2-2 with Auckland and Canterbury respectively.

Auckland remain on top of the table on goal difference from Canterbury following their 3-1 win over Midlands on Saturday before yesterday's draw.

Jess Brewster continues to show out for Auckland but it was Frances Kreft who scored a goal in each game.

North Harbour had plenty of help from their former Northland players Lizzy and Connie Igasan as they edged the northerners 3-1 on Saturday.

Connie Igasan scored twice to take her tally for the season to four and the top of the goalscoring table.

North Harbour dominated much of the first half against Auckland but trailed by a Kreft goal at the break.

Auckland went further ahead early in the second spell when Jan Rowsell finished a good baseline move from Brewster.

The visitors scored twice in two minutes around 10 minutes from time to snatch a deserved point.

Helene Isaac gave Canterbury their 1-0 halftime lead over Wellington. Di Weavers scored from a penalty corner for 2-0 before Wellington struck back.

Northland scored their first win of the season - a 3-1 home win over Midlands.