Southern men missed out on a final spot by one point in the under-21 men's hockey tournament, after Midlands was able to take two points from its game against Capital yesterday.
Canterbury and Midlands women played a preview to the women's final, with Midlands beating Canterbury 6-3.
Southern women will play Capital in the fifth- sixth playoff after they lost to Auckland yesterday.
With the scores tied up at halftime, it was Auckland who took the initiative right after halftime, scoring first from a great deflection by Shereena Nana.
For the rest of the half Southern was trying everything to get the ball into the Auckland circle, but found it hard to break Auckland's defence. When it did, it was unable to take its opportunities to score, losing 2-1. Southern finished the round in sixth on eight points.
The Southern men beat Auckland 3-1, and then had to wait and see if they had made the final.
Southern was down 1-0 with 10 minutes to go in the second half when it scored its first goal, with Kane Russell hitting the back from a penalty corner.
Southern repeated, with Russell scoring his second, to give Southern a 2-1 lead at the break.
Southern was able to keep Auckland at bay and score through Tom Clarkson to take the win 3-1.
Unfortunately for Southern, Midlands had two points from a penalty shootout win, and will face Northern in the men's final today.
Southern will meet Auckland in the third and fourth playoff.
Finals and playoffs
- Today's draw
• Men: Fifth-sixth, Capital v Canterbury, 8am; third-fourth, Southern v Auckland, 9.45am; final, Northern v Midlands, 1.30pm.
• Women: Fifth-sixth, Capital v Southern, 8.15am; third-fourth, Auckland v Northern, 9.30am; final, Canterbury v Midlands, 11.30am.
