Hockey: Auckland on track for double

Sam Charlton's on-form Midlands will be a stiff challenge for Auckland when the sides meet in the K Cup semifinals tomorrow. Photo / Christine Cornege

Auckland's bid for a successful double defence of the national hockey titles remains alive going into tomorrow's semifinals.

In the men's Challenge Shield, Auckland play Capital and Southern face Midlands; in the women's K Cup, Auckland play Midlands and Canterbury meet hosts Northland.

While the men were runaway top qualifiers for the semifinals in Whangarei, Auckland's women finished third behind Canterbury and Midlands.

North Harbour women were left ruing a lost chance last night.

They led Canterbury 2-0 with 13 minutes to go. A four-goal win would have enabled them to bump hosts Northland out of the top four. Instead Canterbury came home with a rush, scored three goals to draw the match 3-3, then won the shootout.

That left both North Harbour teams out of the semifinals.

A 7-1 thumping of Capital left 2013 women's champions Midlands in good heart going into the weekend. After losing two of their first three matches, Midlands have struck form, with 24 goals in their last four games.

"Just being a bit more clinical is a big step forward," Black Sticks international and Midlands skipper Sam Charlton said yesterday. "If we can take that into our semifinals we can put up a pretty good fight."

Auckland ensured their place in the top four by beating bottom side Southern 5-0, two goals coming from Danielle Sutherland.

Auckland's men suffered their first loss yesterday, going down 1-2 to Southern. Dwayne Rowsell's goal in the last minute was small consolation.