Harbour, Capital win national titles
A birthday boy and a retiring veteran combined to give the Capital men a tense shootout victory in their first National League Hockey final.
Capital beat North Harbour 3-2 in the shootout after the match had finished 1-1 all in Wellington yesterday.
Benedict van Woerkom scored his sudden death attempt to help celebrate his 26th birthday, before 38-year-old goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex bid farewell to the NHL by stopping Kalyan Jeram’s attempt – cue wild celebrations with his team-mates.
Earlier, North Harbour won the women’s final, beating Central 2-0 to lift the K Cup for the first time since 2010.
The men’s teams could not be separated at 2-2 after five attempts each during the shootout.
Pontifex had earlier saved two attempts in the shootout, as well as he stopped a penalty stroke from Cory Bennett after he was adjudged to have fouled Jeram during his team’s third attempt.
‘‘Going into the shootout it’s all on the line so it was nice to get a few saves,’’ Pontifex said.
North Harbour were in control for most of their 2-0 win over Central in the women’s final.
Harbour captain Petrea Webster said it was a special feeling to finally get another K Cup win – it was Harbour’s first in eight years. ‘‘I haven’t been in a K Cup final since 2010, so it feels bloody good to get our hands back on the cup.’’
Harbour were the top qualifiers coming into the final, but it was an incredibly tight round-robin. The four teams from second to fifth were separated by just one point as Central made the final on goal difference, making the Hockey New Zealand decision to do away with semifinals in the women’s competition this year questionable.
As for the final, it was a nervy affair, but Central looked hesitant at times and found it difficult to break down Harbour’s defence.
Harbour took the lead following a 26thminute field goal to Courtney Winterbottom, sweeping home from close range after some sloppy defending from Central in their circle.
Harbour doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when Kirsten Pearce finished high at the back post following good work down the Steph Elliot right.