The Women's National Hockey League continued to be a closely contested competition after the third round matches were played on Saturday.

League leaders Auckland hosted bottom placed Midlands and found the visitors sterner opposition than their placing suggested. Although taking an early lead through Jessica Brewster after a fast break out from a defensive PC, Auckland found the Midland midfielders Robbie Matthews, Hilary Thompson, and Bryonie Hutchinson hard to breach. Frances Kreft gave Auckland a handy 2 nil lead midway through the first half in finishing off a well worked PC but Auckland failed to convert from the other thirteen PC's awarded to them in a one sided first half. Sian Bremner controlled the midfield possession more accurately for Auckland and provided a steady stream of ball for her forwards. Midlands goalie Karen Smith with fullbacks Kath Drew and Katie Cockrem kept their side in the hunt with solid defence.

Upping the tempo in the second half Midlands were rewarded when Clarissa Eshuis converted a rebounded PC shot to give the visitors hope. Midland strikers Kylie Morgan, Anna Symes , Eshuis and Shannon Dickson looked a more competitive force but all too often the attacks were solo efforts, whereas the Auckland strikers including Player of the day Krystal Forgesson worked in combination more efficiently.
A late goal by Lizzie Ryan gave the league leaders deserved 3-1 win more respectability but Midlands showed that they can be competitive.

By contrast the Men's competition showed that the gap between the big three, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury at the top and the rest of the teams is distinct. Auckland rocked Midlands after just 19 seconds with a slick opening goal to Mark Laurence.

Playing at pace, the Auckland forwards showed their class and skill in breaching the Midlands circle almost at will. Under 18 rep Hamish Baron showed skill and maturity at the top of the circle in laying off of to an unmarked Dharmesh Puna for the first of his four goals. Umesh Hari and Taine Bennett each converted and Dharmesh Puna twice beat goalkeeper Dean Armstrong with drag flicked PC's to give Auckland a stunning 6-0 half time lead.

Midland's coach Sue McLeish lost key fullback Warren Phillips through injury but moved last weeks star Richard Petherick back to the more familiar fullback role to good effect. Armstrong bounced back from the disappointment of the first half to make some fine saves and frustrate the Auckland strikers. Midland Australian import and centre half Seyi Onitiri toiled hard and in conjunction with Petherick & Ian Haste held out the Auckland forwards for most of the second spell with only Puna with another drag flicked PC breaching the Midlands defensive screen.

Auckland coach Ian Woodley enjoyed the return of Olympians Wayne McIndoe and Paul Woolford to bolster up his defence but was pleased with his young forward line's ability to finish off. "In the last two games we squandered scoring opportunities, but today we took them" he said.


In other results Canterbury, Wellington and North Harbour had easy wins over Central, Southern and Northland respectively.


Match report by Vaughan Hilton