Hockey: Close contests leave NHL wide open

Black Stick Nick Haig scored four of Canterbury's six goals against bottom side Northland. Photo / Alan Gibson

Those who like their competitions nice and tight could not complain at events in the national league going into tomorrow's final block of round robin games in Whangarei.

In the late game in the women's K Cup tonight, hosts Northland were beaten 2-1 by Canterbury. The upshot is that six teams are covered by four points, and will vie for semifinal spots tomorrow.

Northland, without injured Black Sticks midfielder Stacey Michelsen, suffered their first loss of the week, two goals to fellow international Sophie Cocks enough to get Canterbury to the top of the standings.

There was no shortage of drama elsewhere with two other games decided on penalty shootouts.

Auckland won their shootout 3-1 against Capital, after the scores were locked 2-2. Of the semifinal hopefuls, the defending champions have the easiest game tomorrow, against bottom side Southern.

Midlands squeezed past North Harbour 5-4 in another shootout, after the scores were level 2-2 at fulltime. Black Stick Sam Charlton scored the decisive goal in the shootout.

It was so nearly North Harbour's win in normal time, with the equalizer for Midlands coming through Alia Jaques in the final minute.

The men's Challenge Shield is a squash too. Defending champions Auckland remain comfortably clear after a 2-1 win over Capital, with goals from Jared Panchia and Kim Kingstone, to a last-minute consolation effort from Jacob Smith.

Midlands' win over North Harbour in the final men's match means five teams are covered by just two points in the battle for the other three semifinal spots.

Nick Haig scored four of Canterbury's six goals against bottom side Northland to sit top on the individual scorers' list with seven.

In tomorrow's final round robin matches, in both competitions, Auckland face Southern, North Harbour play Canterbury, Northland meet Central and Capital play Midlands.