Hockey: Big guns set for bragging rights face-off

Krystal Forgesson. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Either someone has a supreme gift for planning, or it is just plain good luck.

Auckland will face Midlands - No2 versus No1 - in the final round of round robin play at the national hockey tournament at North Harbour today.

Midlands have had their noses in front since the opening round on August 30; Auckland have steadily closed the gap so today there is a solitary point separating the two.

Both are sure of making the playoffs on Saturday and Sunday, but Auckland's co-captain Arun Panchia admitted there was a clear preference for where the defending champions would like to sit come Saturday.

"I think it's very important and psychologically there's quite a big advantage if you know you've beaten a team earlier in the week going into the semis and finals," the Black Stick attacker said yesterday.

"And you want to finish top of the ladder to have some bragging rights.

"It'll definitely be a good-quality match and we're looking to peak for the semis and finals," Panchia said.

Auckland eased past Capital 3-0 yesterday, with goals from Michael Richie, Ryan Archibald and Ben Radonovich, while Midlands had to scrape through courtesy of a penalty shootout against Southern after drawing 2-2.

Midlands might call it a missed opportunity.

They led 2-1 through Richard Petherick and Zac Woods until just before the final whistle when Jeremy Morris hauled Southern back into the contest with a spectacular goal.

Midlands won the shootout 2-1, but the effect was the loss of two points for the win in regulation time.

Central punted bottom side Northland 8-3.

Southern, Canterbury and North Harbour will be in a three-way battle for the other two semifinal spots in the Challenge Shield.

Auckland's women are one up on the men in the K Cup, after their 3-1 win over Central yesterday.

Former Black Stick Charlotte Harrison continued her good form this week with two goals - international Krystal Forgesson added the other - while promising young striker Michaela Curtis nabbed her fifth goal of the tournament for Central, to sit second top to Canterbury's Sian Fremaux.

Northland, who had led from the start of the NHL, slipped up, losing a penalty shootout to Canterbury 3-1, after the scores finished level, 1-1.

Maddison Rosser put Northland ahead; Libby Masefield equalised 10 minutes from the end.

Canterbury have the third semifinal spot locked up, while defending champions Midlands, Central and Capital - making a rails run with two wins in their last three games - are vying for the final place.

Capital cleaned up North Harbour 6-1, with two goals apiece for international midfielder Anita Punt and Georgie Morgan, one each to Kelsey Smith and Felicity Reidy.

Shareena Nana got Harbour's goal.