Midlands will play Canterbury, who dumped on Central, 6-0, in the final game last night. Brothers Cam and Willie Hayde nabbed two goals apiece, Willie Davidson and Nick Budgeon one each.
Canterbury have been off-colour at times in this season's league, but you would not bet against them finding a way past Midlands who have had a solid campaign.
North Harbour haven't had much to celebrate this week, but ended the round robin with a resounding 4-0 win over Capital. James Coughlan and Brennan Alexander-Parker had the host province in charge in the first quarter. Corey Bennett and Elliott Bartholomew provided the finishing touches.
Harbour's women edged past bottom side Southern in a penalty shootout last night, but it was too late to help them find a route to the semifinals.
Auckland ensured they'd finish top with a good 4-2 win over Capital yesterday. They'll face the defending champions Midlands tomorrow while Northland play Canterbury in the other semi.
Capital, needing a win to force their way towards a semifinal spot, and needing at least one other result to go their way, pulled their way back into the contest after Sam Harrison and Su Arn Kwek had Auckland 2-0 early. Felicity Reidy and Madeleine Simmonds had the game tied up just before halftime.
However, on the day she announced her international retirement, longtime Black Sticks attacker Krystal Forgesson showed what the national side will miss, grabbing two goals in three minutes. "She's such an influential player, a game changer," national and provincial team mate Liz Thompson said last night.
"She's taught me a lot and she'll definitely be missed. It's a hard decision she's had to make."
Top Black Sticks bow out before Rio 2016
Black Stick midfielder Krystal Forgesson and goalkeeper Bianca Russell have announced their retirement from the international game.
Both players have helped New Zealand win critical games over many years and coach Mark Hager said the pair would be greatly missed as the team begins preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Forgesson, 31, and Russell, 36, are both shifting their focus to jobs.
Having debuted in 2005, Forgesson's career has included three Commonwealth Games, Beijing and London Olympics and World Cups in Holland and Argentina.
She has 220 international test caps and scored 77 goals to sit alongside Katie Glynn as the leading goal scorer for this country.
"The Rio Olympics had always been in the back of my mind when making this decision, especially with it only being a year and a half away, but I just don't think I can keep giving it 100 per cent," said Forgesson.
Russell's decision to retire also didn't come easily, but she believed it was the right time to step aside.
"I wish I didn't have to go - my heart still very much wants to play hockey but reality and my head say that it's time to walk away," she said. Debuting in 2008, Russell played at the London Olympics, the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and other major events.
