By TERRY MADDAFORD
Defending champions North Harbour and Auckland are setting the pace in the National League with strong games in the opening rounds of the men's and women's competitions.
The Auckland women overcame a gritty Wellington 2-1 yesterday to top the table on goal difference from Canterbury.
The North Harbour men
held Auckland 1-1 and won the penalty stroke tiebreaker 4-2 to take a one-point lead into the third round.
Canterbury blew their chance to take control of the men's race when held 4-4 by Midland Express, who stung the visitors by twice taking the lead in Hamilton.
The home side were denied their first win by a Peter Stafford penalty stroke in the 62nd minute.
Led by a Scott Falconer hat-trick, Wellington overpowered Northland 5-3 in Wellington.
In top-of-the-table action, North Harbour weathered early Auckland pressure to snatch the lead in the 42nd minute when David Kosoof deflected home from a penalty corner.
Auckland equalised five minutes from time, Dharmesh Puna scoring with a drag flick from their 10th penalty corner. Expert work by North Harbour goalkeeper Pierre Jones gave his team the upper hand in the stroke-off, which they won comfortably.
Auckland have yet to take a point from a tiebreaker in three seasons of the Lion Foundation League.
"In games against Auckland and Wellington last season we picked up two points," Harbour coach Bill Webb said. "This season we have taken five."
Jones, Kosoof and injury-hampered Lloyd Stephenson stood out for North Harbour, and Dion Gosling, Ryan Archibald and Dharmesh Puna were the pick of the visitors.
The North Harbour women sprang the upset of the round, downing Manawatu 2-1 away.
Helen Haggas gave Manawatu the lead in the 14th minute, but goals to Bryonie Hutchinson two minutes later and four minutes from time gave North Harbour maximum points.
The Wellington women dominated early against hot favourites Auckland at Avondale College, going ahead in the eighth minute through Suzie Pearce.
The home side clawed their way back with goals from penalty corners by Karen Sydall and Anna Lawrence either side of the break.
