The Southern Men scored their biggest win in the national league on Saturday in Christchurch but could not do enough yesterday to win a play-off match.
Against the Central side on Saturday, Southern recorded a big 7-1 win.
Knowing it had to score at least six goals to make the play-off for fifth, Southern tweaked its tactics at half-time when it was ahead just 2-1.
The move worked wonders, with Callum Bailey and Hayden Shaw each scoring two goals in the second spell.
The win put the side through to the play-off against the strong Auckland side yesterday afternoon.
But in a game which was all over the field, Auckland won 4-3 after both sides had scored a goal in the first half.
Southern coach Dave Ross said the team had improved throughout the week and the aim was to now break into the top five.
He was happy with sixth place, and there was a good core group in the squad.
The side finished eighth last year but was fifth in 2004.
Black Sticks striker Simon Child scored a couple of goals for Auckland.
The Southern women scored a 1-1 draw against Northland on Saturday but fell heavily, 6-0, to the same side yesterday morning.
Coach Mark Smithells said the side played well on Saturday, with Eloise Watson scoring the goal for Southern, making the most of gaining possession after a scramble from a penalty corner.
Northland attacked better in the second half but the Southern defenders stood firm, with goalkeeper Liz Gifford and youngster Sam Dalziel playing well.
Yesterday, Northland came out firing as the Southern team struggled with the 8am start.
Blacks Stick striker Charlotte Harrison scored the opening two goals for Northland, and the side never let up.
With the loss, Southern finished last in the competition, the same result as last year.
