Southern teams disappointing last

SOUTHERN completed the double but it was not the achievement the region was hoping for at the National Hockey League.

Both the men’s and women’s sides finished last in the tournament after a frustrating week at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington.

The Dogs hit some good form towards the end of the roundrobin phase.

They strung together consecutive wins.

But despite a spirited effort in their playoff match against Midlands on Saturday, the Dogs were beaten 32 and knocked out of the tournament.

Southern started the game well but Midlands was able to absorb the pressure and struck first.

Mark Weber flicked in a penalty stroke after moments earlier hitting a Southern player on the line to win the stroke.

Southern persisted to play the game at a fast pace and that eventually paid off with striker Jack Gilbert netting following a wellworked play.

The turning point came towards the end of the third period when Midlands knocked in successive penalty corners to take a 31 lead into the final quarter.

Southern pulled its keeper late in the game and pegged back a goal through Jordan Ward.

Midlands played Central in the playoff for fifth and was thumped 72.

Canterbury thrashed Auckland 61 in the bronze medal match.

Capital prevailed against North Harbour in a tense final. The score was locked 11 at fulltime but the home side claimed the crown with a 32 win in the shootout.

In the women’s final, North Harbour beat Central 20.

Canterbury beat Capital 32 in the playoff for fifth, while Midlands edged out Auckland 10 to clinch third place.

The Southern Storm struggled, losing all eight of its games.

It lost its final roundrobin game to North Harbour 61 and fell 21 to Northland in the playoff for seventh.

Coach Matt L’Huillier, who is based in Melbourne, said his side learned a lot from the tournament.

The expectations had not been high given its disrupted buildup. But he plans to be more available from now on and hopes the Storm can build on the campaign.

The team was competitive in patches. Classy goalie Ginny Wilson and star midfielder Tessa Jopp were ‘‘the heart and soul of the team’’.

But defenders Harriet McFetridge and Lydia Shirley also stood up.

The team just needs to find more consistency. Its final roundrobin match against North Harbour summed up the Storm’s tournament.

It defended stoutly in the first half, conceding just one goal. Tinesha Carey scored from a penalty corner early in the third period to level the scores.

But the Storm was unable to maintain its defensive intensity and Harbour scored five unanswered goals to record a comprehensive victory.