Ford National Hockey League
National Hockey Stadium, Wellington
Women
1. Auckland
2. Central
3. Midlands
4. Northland
5. North Harbour
6. Canterbury
7. Capital
8. Southern
Men
1st equal: Auckland/Central
3. Midlands
4. Capital
5. North Harbour
6. Northland
7. Southern
8. Canterbury
2011 National Hockey League Awards
Pritchard Cup Most Valuable Umpire Award: Devendra Patel and Aleesha Unka
Just Hockey Top Goal Scorer Award
Men: Stephen Jenness and Andy Hayward – 11 goals
Women: Katie Glynn and Kayla Sharland – 13 goals
Ford Most Valuable Player Award: Nick Wilson and Kayla Sharland
2011 Ford National Hockey League
RESULTS, FINALS
MEN
Central vs Auckland (Gold medal match)
The Challenge Shield lived up to its name today when the final match of the 2011 Ford National Hockey League was abandoned due to rain, hail, sleet and then finally snow which forced both teams from the field with 20 minutes to play. After a short delay the tournament’s technical officials decided that due to the logistics of getting the same teams together again, particularly with players’ offshore commitments, this year’s Shield would be shared between Auckland and Central. After the first half, Central’s Ben Collier scored after a break down at a penalty corner. Auckland responded three minutes later when Dwayne Rowsell replied from a penalty corner drag flick. The score was 1-1 at the break, which highlighted how even the teams were. Rowsell was the only one to score in the 15 minutes played in the second half, with Auckland leading 2-1 when the game was halted.
Midlands vs Capital (Bronze medal match)
Last year’s finalists, Midlands and Capital were tied at 6-6 after 70 minutes and it took two periods of extra time before Midlands’ Rob Reckers secured the golden goal result. Jared Jones got Capital underway in the 5th minute with a reverse stick shot from close range and repeated the dose ten minutes later. After 23 minutes, Blair Hilton raced in from midfield to crack a third goal past startled goalkeeper Tom Lysaght. Midlands needed to respond and did so immediately from the restart when Cam Hayde’s reverse stick shot from the left gave Capital goalkeeper Alex Schroder no chance. Schroder then saved well from a Ricky Clarke drag flick but could not stop Reckers getting behind him to finish a sweeping move and double Midlands score. Midlands drew level when Nick Ross swept in a low reverse stick shot after 32 minutes. Ross scored in identical fashion on the stroke of half time to give Midlands an unlikely lead. Joel Baker evened things up after 43 minutes, smashing a waist-high shot past goalkeeper Stephen Graham. Just a minute later, Andy Hayward replied for Midlands following a penalty corner after the initial shot was knocked clear. In the 52nd minute, Midlands earned another penalty corner and Hayward dragged in a low shot after a clever variation, 6-4 to Midlands. Central responded immediately and Matt L'Huillier’s fierce penalty corner drag flick deflected in off a defender in the 56th minute. Just four minutes of normal time remained when Capital’s Stephen Jenness deflected in another L’Huillier drag flick and the teams headed for extra time. There was no score in the nine-man first period although Schroder made a good save from a Hayward penalty corner drag flick. The second period with the teams down to seven, was even until, with a minute to go, Reckers got the slightest of touches to a ball hit into the circle and Schroder was left stranded. Midlands’ claim the bronze medal rather than the silver they took home last year, while Capital leave empty-handed.
North Harbour vs Northland (5th and 6th game)
Northland recorded their best finish at a national hockey league for several years despite losing 3-1 to North Harbour in the play-off for fifth place. North Harbour scored first when the impressive Steve Edwards was on hand in mid-circle to knock in a ball from the right hand side after nine minutes. Ten minutes later former Black Stick Bevan Hari hit firmly into the corner of the net to extend North Harbour’s lead. Then with half time looming, a dangerous Northland attack resulted in a penalty corner which Sam Webb converted decisively. Steady rain had been falling through the first half and this became torrential after the break. There was time for Dave Kosoof to push home a third North Harbour goal after 45 minutes, but from then on the rain-soaked turf made cohesive hockey impossible. Play went for the full 35 minutes, but the final hooter brought a merciful end to proceedings and 22 sodden players trudged from the virtual lake.
Southern vs Canterbury (7th and 8th game)
After coming so close to securing a spot in the semi-finals, Canterbury left the turf a disappointed side after being beaten 2-1 by Southern and finishing bottom of the table. A field goal from Jonothan Pooch in the 25th minute was not enough. Hugo Inglis scored a field goal in the 41st minute and Kane Russell scored from a penalty corner in the 62nd minute to secure a delighted Southern team their second win of the league.
WOMEN
Auckland vs Central (Gold medal game)
Auckland take home the K Cup for the first time since 2001 after a convincing 5-2 victory over Central. Auckland only lost two games during the league; one of those was narrowly to Central in their final round-robin match two days ago. In the final, Auckland was clinical in their passing showing patience in attack and it was a hat-trick from Katie Glynn and a double from Krystal Forgesson that sealed victory. Auckland came out all guns blazing and was awarded a penalty corner in the third minute from which Glynn converted the first of her three drag flicks. Auckland controlled the ball well and ten minutes later doubled their lead when Glynn scored her second. Central were competitive, holding possession in the midfield but struggled to get the ball into their attacking circle in the first half. An opportunity arose when Piki Hamahona fed Erin Weber who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Caroline Stuart in the 24th minute. Auckland held their 2-1 lead till half-time. In the second spell, Auckland came out strongly, determined to increase the lead. Four minutes in, Glynn nailed her hat-trick with another low and hard flick into the bottom left corner of the goal. Auckland controlled the ball for much of the second half, with Forgesson bagging two field goals. The first came in the 55th when she received the ball on the edge of the circle and smashed it past goalkeeper Bridgette Allen. The second came in the 67th minute when a long ball was hit into the circle and Forgesson slid in and swept it into the goal. Central notched its second in the 71st minute with Tara Drysdale scoring from a breakdown of a penalty corner.
Midlands vs Northland (Bronze medal game)
Midlands took out the bronze medal for the second year in a row with a 2-1 win over Northland in wet conditions. Northland scored in the first minute after a loose Midlands pass was intercepted by Anna Thorpe who dribbled into the circle and had an unchallenged shot on goal which Sally Rutherford could not stop. Northland looked dominant in the early stages and while Midlands had some opportunities they could not put them away. In the second half, Midlands came out looking fired up and scored almost immediately. Gemma Flynn entered the circle and looked to cross the ball but it deflected off a Northland defender’s leg into the goal. Midlands kept the pressure on and it paid off in the 43rd minute when Jol McGarvey put the ball into the goal from three metres. Northland tried to fight their way back into the game, throwing everything they could at the goal but the Midlands defence led by Rutherford held on. In the last five minutes, Northland subbed their goal keeper in a last ditch effort to equalise but they still could not get past Rutherford who made a great save in the final two minutes to keep Northland out and give Midlands the bronze.
Canterbury vs North Harbour (5th and 6th game)
Canterbury led for almost the entire match but ended up losing to North Harbour to an extra time goal scored by Kate Savory. A field goal to Canterbury’s Anna Wetherall after just 12 seconds was the only goal of an even first half where possession and territory were shared. After 43 minutes the dangerous Sian Fremaux increased Canterbury’s lead, racing into the circle and deflecting in a through pass at full stretch. Rhiannon Dennison pulled one back for North Harbour with a hard flat reverse stick after 54 minutes. With five minutes left, North Harbour substituted their goalkeeper giving them an extra attacker and Kelsey Dunn scored from a well-directed penalty corner hit with only a minute to play. After just three minutes of extra time, Savory took the ball into the circle and drove past the goalkeeper to earn North Harbour fifth place in the league.
Southern vs Capital (7th and 8th game)
Capital ended their 2011 Ford National Hockey League campaign with a 5-1 win against the Southern Storm. Playing at 8am in the wind and rain, the home side rallied together and a hat-trick from Jess McFadyen and a double from ex-Black Stick Suzie Muirhead helped Capital to their only win of this year’s league. With the score 1-1 at half time it was anyone’s game, but Capital piled on the pressure early in the second half. They were awarded a string of penalty corners, three of which McFadyen converted. Capital finish in seventh place and Southern go home in eighth position in what was a repeat of last year’s play-off.
MEN
Land and Marine Auckland Fury vs Central Mavericks (Gold medal match)
Full time score: Did not complete game due to snow. The score with 20 minutes remaining was 2-1 to Auckland. It was decided that both teams will share the Challenge Shield.
Half time score: 1-1
Goal scorers for Auckland: Dwayne Rowsell x2.
Goal scorer for Central: Ben Collier
Ricoh Capital vs Bayleys Midlands (Bronze medal match)
Full time score: 6-6 (Midlands won 1-0 in extra time)
Half time score: 4-3 (Midlands lead)
Goal scorers for Capital: Jared Jones x2, Blair Hilton, Joel Baker, Matt L'Huillier, Stephen Jenness.
Goal scorers for Midlands: Cameron Hayde, Rob Reckers, Nick Ross x2, Andy Hayward x2.
North Harbour vs Rosvall ITM Northland (5th and 6th)
Full time score: 3-1 (North Harbour win)
Half time score: 2-1 (North Harbour lead)
Goal scorers for North Harbour: Steve Edwards, Bevan Hari, Dave Kosoof.
Goal scorers for Northland: Sam Webb.
Southern vs Canterbury Cavaliers (7th and 8th)
Full time score: 2-1 (Southern win)
Half time score: 1-0 (Canterbury lead)
Goal scorers for Southern: Hugo Inglis, Kane Russell.
Goal scorers for Canterbury: Jonothan Pooch
WOMEN
Central Mysticks vs Land and Marine Auckland Fury (Gold medal match)
Full time score: 5-2 (Auckland win)
Half time score: 2-1 (Auckland lead)
Goal scorers for Central: Erin Weber, Tara Drysdale.
Goal scorers for Auckland: Katie Glynn x3, Krystal Forgesson x2.
Mark Cromie Holden Northland vs Bayleys Midlands (Bronze medal match)
Full time score: 2-1 (Midlands win)
Half time score: 1-0 (Northland lead)
Goal scorer for Northland: Anna Thorpe
Goal scorers for Midlands: Gemma Flynn, Jol McGarvey
Canterbury Cats vs North Harbour (5th and 6th)
Full time score: 2-2 (North Harbour won 3-2 in extra time)
Half time score: 1-0 (Canterbury lead)
Goal scorers for Canterbury: Anna Wetherall, Sian Fremaux.
Goal scorers for North Harbour: Rhiannon Dennison, Kelsey Dunn. Golden goal to Kate Savory.
Southern Storm vs Lifestyle Capital (7th and 8th)
Full time score: 5-1 (Capital win)
Half time score: 1-1
Goal scorers for Southern: Anita Chandler.
Goal scorers for Capital: Jess McFadyen x3, Suzie Muirhead x2.
