Top sides can’t be separated

Honours were shared between the top two women’s premier club teams in what was likely to be a preview for the final later in the year.

College Premier and High School Hockey Club drew 3-all at the twin turfs last Saturday. They are joint on top of the table, but High School are ahead on goal difference.

The two sides are stronger than the rest of the field and should have the top two spots sewn up, so it’s for the remaining four sides to grab the other two playoff places.

College A are in third place on goal difference, having beaten winless Feilding 2-1.

Athletic are fourth after their 2-1 win over Massey, who are three points behind them in fifth.

There were some tight games between the top four in the men’s competition.

Levin and Massey battled out a 2-all draw at Massey University.

Levin are in second, two points ahead ofMassey, and there is a close scrap between the teams from second to fourth.

Marist are in fourth place after a 1-0 loss to leaders College Premier at the twin turfs.

High School Hockey Club had the biggest win of the round, beating College A 4-1.

High School are three points off the top four.

■ Manawatū sent two under-18 teams to Hawke’s Bay at the weekend for the McAleese Whitelock Trophy, with the under-18 girls losing 5-1 and the boys losing 3-2.

Their next fixture is in Palmerston North on Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Standings:

Men: College Premier 16, Levin 13, Massey 11, Marist 10, HSHC 7, College A 1.

Women: HSHC 10, College Premier 10, College A 6, Athletic 6, Massey 3, Feilding 0.

Saturday’s draw:

Men: Levin v College Premier, twin turfs, 1.45pm; Massey v HSHC, Massey University, 1.45pm; Marist v College A, twin turfs, 3.30pm.

Women: Feilding v Athletic, twin turfs, 12pm; College A v HSHC, twin turfs, 1.45pm; Massey v College Premier, twin turfs, 3.30pm.