The Auckland men's team's mood was as bitter as the harsh Wellington weather after snow scuppered their hopes of a first outright National Hockey League title in 10 years.
Auckland led 2-1 with 20 minutes to play in yesterday's final against underdogs Central when the rain and hail at Newtown's National Hockey Stadium was replaced by snow.
The white ball became near-impossible to see as players and umpires scuttled for cover and, after some vigorous discussion, the tournament's technical officials decided that "due to the logistics of getting the same teams together again, particularly with players' overseas commitments", the Challenge Shield would be shared.
That conclusion did not sit too well with Auckland and their captain, Dean Couzins.
He argued in vain that the final should have been completed at a later date.
"It's frustrating. I mean you just want to play sport, right, so you just can't do anything about it. Sport kind of kicks you like that sometimes. I know it's difficult, Central's a bit more spread than what we are and they've got a couple of foreign players but ... I just think you should try and play it.
I know expense-wise it's a really difficult thing but there's more important things than just the money in it. Teams really want to win this title,
Central's Ben Collier had opened the scoring with a reverse stick shot before Auckland's Dwayne Rowsell converted drag flick penalty corners either side of halftime.
While distraught at having to share the spoils, Couzins admitted the conditions were freakish.
"In Europe and Holland, I've trained and played when it's started to snow and had to stop but I think this is probably worse than what I've ever played in. It was horrific, like it was freezing cold, so concentration is hard and just not feeling your hands and the ball feels like a little concrete brick. It was tough."
Central skipper Shea McAleese was left with mixed feelings.
His association had never reached a semifinal before this year.
"One hand on the trophy...
"It's great to happen, obviously for the boys and the province, for Central hockey, but it's not the way you want it to happen," McAleese
Though disappointed a winner had not been found, McAleese said it would have been unfair to reschedule the final because Central's two imports, Englishman Simon Egerton and German Tom Mieling, would not have been available. "So it makes it really tough for us to agree to playing at another date. It's unprecedented weather. I don't think it'll ever happen again, it's just one of those things you can't help and Mother Nature can be a bit of a ... you know, sometimes."
Central duo Nick Wilson and Kayla Sharland won tournament MVP awards.
Sharland and Auckland's finals hat-trick hero Katie Glynn shared the top goalscorer award (13 apiece) as did Capital's Stephen Jenness and Midlands' Andy Hayward with 11 each.
Auckland led 2-1 with 20 minutes to play in yesterday's final against underdogs Central when the rain and hail at Newtown's National Hockey Stadium was replaced by snow.
The white ball became near-impossible to see as players and umpires scuttled for cover and, after some vigorous discussion, the tournament's technical officials decided that "due to the logistics of getting the same teams together again, particularly with players' overseas commitments", the Challenge Shield would be shared.
That conclusion did not sit too well with Auckland and their captain, Dean Couzins.
He argued in vain that the final should have been completed at a later date.
I know expense-wise it's a really difficult thing but there's more important things than just the money in it. Teams really want to win this title,
Central's Ben Collier had opened the scoring with a reverse stick shot before Auckland's Dwayne Rowsell converted drag flick penalty corners either side of halftime.
While distraught at having to share the spoils, Couzins admitted the conditions were freakish.
"In Europe and Holland, I've trained and played when it's started to snow and had to stop but I think this is probably worse than what I've ever played in. It was horrific, like it was freezing cold, so concentration is hard and just not feeling your hands and the ball feels like a little concrete brick. It was tough."
Central skipper Shea McAleese was left with mixed feelings.
His association had never reached a semifinal before this year.
"One hand on the trophy...
"It's great to happen, obviously for the boys and the province, for Central hockey, but it's not the way you want it to happen," McAleese
Though disappointed a winner had not been found, McAleese said it would have been unfair to reschedule the final because Central's two imports, Englishman Simon Egerton and German Tom Mieling, would not have been available. "So it makes it really tough for us to agree to playing at another date. It's unprecedented weather. I don't think it'll ever happen again, it's just one of those things you can't help and Mother Nature can be a bit of a ... you know, sometimes."
Central duo Nick Wilson and Kayla Sharland won tournament MVP awards.
Sharland and Auckland's finals hat-trick hero Katie Glynn shared the top goalscorer award (13 apiece) as did Capital's Stephen Jenness and Midlands' Andy Hayward with 11 each.
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