Hockey: Penalty puts Auckland in semifinals

Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Auckland preserved their unbeaten record heading into tomorrow's National Hockey League semifinals but needed a controversial last-minute Mark Laurence penalty stroke to salvage yesterday's 2-2 draw with Southern to do it.

It was another encouraging effort from the Southerners, who won three of their first five games and eventually finished in fifth place with 10 points - well clear of Central, Canterbury and Northland, who won only one each.

Northland had to wait until yesterday's seventh, and last, round to pick up their first points of the tournament but they did it in style with a 4-1 win over disappointing Canterbury.

Josh Miller led Northland's charge with a hat-trick while Duncan Pearce scored the other to take his haul to an impressive seven - half of the 14 scored by Northland.

The Hemant Lala-coached Aucklanders face Capital in the second of the men's semifinals, well aware their round-robin clash in round three was a keen affair won 3-2 by Auckland.

First up, Midlands will play hosts North Harbour in what promises to be a close contest. In round-robin play - in a tight first round clash - they drew 1-1. Canterbury women ended pool play unbeaten following yesterday's 1-0 win over North Harbour.

Midlands, 3-0 winners over Central yesterday, will play Auckland in what too promises to be another close one.