KEY POINTS:
A win for Auckland men over lowly Southern in today's late game will seal their place in Sunday's National Hockey League final but the scramble to find their opponent is certain to go to the wire.
Last night's 2-2 draw between Wellington and Canterbury cost both teams valuable
points and left North Harbour and Midlands better placed to battle for the second final spot.
Midlands got back in that race by upsetting North Harbour 2-1 yesterday. The pair are now locked on nine points in second place. Harbour have the better goal difference but face a tougher task with remaining games against Wellington (5pm today) and Canterbury (Saturday) whereas Midlands face Central and Northland.
The women's race has been thrown open with previously unbeaten North Harbour also going down to Midlands by a goal in the fifth round feature.
Harbour lead Auckland and Midlands by two points with two to play and could seal their place in the final with a win over Auckland tonight.
Auckland bounced back from their 0-1 loss to Canterbury to beat disappointing Central 3-1 after being locked 1-1 at halftime.
In thumping Wellington 4-1, Northland have also burst into finals contention. They should beat winless Southern this afternoon to stay in touch.
A diving effort from Sophie Wickens in the 33rd minute of their clash with North Harbour earned Midlands their 1-0 win. Well-led by former internationals Kate Mahon and Di Te Awa (nee Weavers), Midlands shut the league leaders out of the game.
Leading 4-0 with goals from Natasha Cotton, Jade McLeod, Anna Thorpe and Anna Weir, Northland dominated defending champions Wellington, though Niniwa Roberts scored a late consolation.
Pip Lloyd scored first and last for Canterbury as they beat Southern 4-2 after being locked 2-2 at halftime.
The Auckland men had their imports Pat Harris and Marcus Chua to thank for their 4-1 win over Northland. Harris scored a goal from the field and a penalty corner while Malaysian international Chua scored twice from open play.
North Harbour, bolstered by Black Sticks defender Blair Hopping - called in to replace injured Jan Peterson - were 0-2 inside 22 minutes after Lincoln Churchill and import David Guest had scored. Ben Poulton got one back in the 26th minute but that completed the scoring.
Southern raced to 3-0 before halftime and, with Matt Young scoring twice, went on to beat Central 4-1 to take their first win of the week.
It was always close between Canterbury and Wellington. Field goals to Mitch Hayde (Canterbury) and Scott Barnett (Wellington) had them level 1-1 at the break. Penalty corner strikes from Andy Hayward and Wellington's Matt L'Huillier in the second spell earned them a point each.