Hockey: North Harbour take control

By TERRY MADDAFORD


North Harbour's stunning 7-1 win over Canterbury at Rosedale Park yesterday turned the national hockey league on its head.

Twenty-four hours after a stumbling 2-1 win over Midlands on the same ground, North Harbour were ready to play.

Ahead 2-0 after just eight minutes with two replica Lloyd Stephenson reverse stick rockets, the home side took control over a Canterbury team who came north with a perfect five-from-five record in the opening rounds of the Lion Foundation NHL.

After two Bryce Collins' goals stretched the lead to 4-0 inside 25 minutes there was no way back for the out-of-sorts Cantabrians.

They had some brief hope three minutes into the second half when Andrew Nation deflected home a Hugh Copland pass. But it was a rare show of anything from the southerners.

A well-worked goal finished by David Kosoof, another direct Collins strike from a penalty corner to complete his hat-trick and a deserved goal for captain Blair Hopping 16 minutes from time ended the North Harbour rout.

"They attacked us at pace," said bemused Canterbury coach Andrew Hastie. "We got out-played and out-thought. North Harbour are the best team we have played against this season."

Canterbury have relied on Dutch star Taeke Taekema's ability to score at penalty corners. But yesterday he had a none-from-four return, whereas Harbour converted three from seven.

"We talked about enjoying the game," said Harbour player-coach Darren Smith. "We certainly did that. I thought Canterbury were a bit flat."

In taking maximum points from the weekend, North Harbour confirmed their place in the top four.

Thursday's final round will decide the semifinals pairings, with most interest on Auckland's clash with Wellington. If, as expected, Canterbury beat Midlands and Harbour beat Southern, goal difference will be all-important.

Auckland bounced back from Saturday's 5-3 loss to Canterbury to edge Southern 3-0, going to the top of the table on goal difference from Canterbury and Wellington.

Midlands, too, bounced back from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Harbour to beat Central 3-0 in Hamilton yesterday, taking their second win of the season.

Canterbury's women looked set to make amends for the upset loss their men had suffered, at first leading an understrength North Harbour 3-1, then 4-3, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the points at 4-4.

From their first concerted attack, Stacey Carr gave Canterbury their sixth-minute lead.

The game see-sawed to 3-2 to Canterbury at halftime, but was eventually tied up three minutes from time when Connie Igasan, who had earlier scored twice to take her season's tally to eight, set up Holly Riini.

It was a brave effort from North Harbour, who were without international striker Jaimee Provan and had lost star centre-half Lizzy Igasan early in Saturday's 6-2 win over Midlands. A knee injury means she is almost certain to miss the rest of the NHL and possibly next month's Champions Trophy in Argentina.

Canterbury, with six past or present internationals, preceded yesterday's draw with Saturday's 4-1 win over Auckland, holding a one-point lead at the end of the round.

They should maintain that and ensure top seeding for Saturday's semifinals.

Central kept their top four hopes alive with a 2-2 draw against defending champions Wellington on Saturday and a 5-1 win over Midlands yesterday.