Central Falcons flying high

The Central Falcons won both the inaugural men’s and women’s Premier Hockey League titles, adding the men’s title in a thrilling penalty shootout in Hamilton yesterday.

The men’s final went into a shootout after late goals from both the Falcons and the Southern Alpiners meant the teams were level at 1-1 at fulltime.

It was a day for the goalkeepers Dom Dixon and George Enerson, with only one of the five penalty shootout attempts going in (from Stephen Jenness) and several field goal attempts brilliantly saved.

Victorious Falcons captain Shea McAleese acknowledged the goalkeepers’ efforts.

‘‘Both teams put on a bit of a defensive

display and both keepers played really well . . . and credit to Dom [Dixon] who obviously saved all three which is uncommon.’’

After a scoreless 58 minutes in the final, Falcons striker Sam Hiha found himself in space in the circle and nailed the first goal of the match. The Alpiners immediately took off their goalkeeper, winning a penalty corner a minute later which Sam Lane converted with a drag flick.

Black Sticks captain Blair Tarrant had one of the best chances of the final quarter as he stole the ball and one-onone with the goalkeeper lifted the ball wide.

The league’s Most Valuable Player Jacob Smith (Falcons) knocked it in from the spot later in the match but unfortunately he used the back of the stick.

The Hiha and Lane goals followed to send the match into a penalty shootout with the solitary Jenness goal being the match and title decider, but with the Falcons goalkeeper Dixon – who didn’t concede one goal in the shootout – being the notable key to the victory.

The Hauraki Mavericks collected the bronze medal with a 4-1 victory over the Northern Tridents.