Hockey: Slim pickings for Auckland at centenary weekend

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Wellington teams turned party-poopers in forcing odd-goal losses on the Auckland men and women in the opening round of the national league.

Given home games as part of the weekend's centenary celebrations, Auckland went off to Saturday night's centennial dinner empty-handed.

But despite the losses, Auckland showed they will be contenders for both titles with bold showings against two of the favoured teams in the Lion Foundation-sponsored league.

The Wellington women could manage only a 1-0 win against an Auckland team who defended stoutly as Wellington forced six first-half corners and had a further eight shots in the first spell.

The only goal came in the 49th minute when Trish Ross scored with a deflection following a scramble after Auckland had failed to clear yet another Wellington penalty corner.

There was more scoring action in the men's game with Wellington getting home 3-2. Experienced Australian international and Wellington guest player Brent Livermore gave the visitors the early lead when a direct shot deflected off an Auckland stick into the goal.

Dharmesh Puna equalised with a drag flick from a penalty corner in the 23rd minute. Early second-half goals for Phil Burrows and Alister McIntyre took Wellington 3-1 ahead before Puna, with another drag flick, closed the gap 12 minutes from time.

Canterbury, another of the favoured teams, also got home by the odd goal but found the trip to Whangarei harder than expected.

After a scoreless first half, Canterbury went ahead with a Hugh Copeland stroke in the 46th minute. Bryce Collins added a second a minute later before Mark McLeod gave Northland some hope with his 52nd-minute deflection.

North Harbour have taken the early lead, on goal difference, following their 3-1 away win over Midland Express.

Man-of-the-match Darren Smith gave Harbour the lead after eight minutes as the visitors dominated the early exchanges.

The home side got back to 1-1 when Luke Emerson scored with a stroke after goalkeeper James Igasan had been penalised for a clumsy challenge.

Eight minutes from time Blair Hopping, another to show out for the visitors, scored against his former team-mates with a well-struck goal.

The scoring was completed after the final hooter when Brett Leaver smashed home from a penalty corner, Harbour's seventh of the game.

North Harbour sprang the biggest surprise in the women's competition with a 3-2 away win over Manawatu.

Former international Jaimee Provan scored either side of halftime to twice give the visitors the lead.

Rising star Kayla Sharland gave the home side some hope with her equaliser early in the second half before Provan and Connie Igasan stretched the lead to 3-1.

In the day's biggest win, Canterbury, with two goals each from internationals Carol Ward, Stacey Carr and Amanda Christie and one from another Black Stick, Di Weavers, overran Northland 7-0.