Best finish yet for u-21 team

The Central under-21 men’s hockey team have had what is thought to be their best finish at the national tournament.

Central finished second at the tournament, which wrapped up in Auckland on Saturday, where they were only topped by a strong North Harbour team.

Most of the Central team are the same players from the team that won the national under-18 tournament for the first time in 2015.

Central lost their opening game 2-0 against Midlands last Saturday after a long day of travel, then were beaten 5-2 by North Harbour on Monday.

But Central won every other game and kept a clean sheet in the last four matches, with goalkeepers Sean Crook and Angus Griffin, both of Manawatu, both putting in great efforts.

Central then beat Southern 3-0 , Auckland 1-0, Canterbury 2-0 and Capital 2-0 in the last game on Saturday.

Coach Corey Prouting said they came in under the radar.

‘‘We started off with two losses and I think all the other teams had written us off then by all accounts,’’ he said.

Dylan Thomas of Hawke’s Bay was the tournament’s second top goal scorer with five goals.

Striker Thomas was a star up front for Central and his co-captain Dion Spackman of Manawatu was strong defending at the back all week.

Prouting was helped by new Black Stick Mac Wilcox, who is still eligible for the under-21 team. He had just returned from Black Sticks duty on Tuesday and helped coach the side.

The Central women finished fourth in their competition, which was won by Midlands.

Central lost to Canterbury 8-2, beat Capital 2-1, beat Auckland 3-2 in a shootout after the game was level 1-all at fulltime, lost 6-1 to Midlands, beat North Harbour 2-1 and beat Southern 2-0.

Third-placed Auckland beat Midlands on a shootout in the final game, so just went ahead of Central in the medal placings.