By Lucas Ball
Congratulations to W1s’ player Phoebe Steele who became a national champion with Auckland over the weekend, winning the K Cup as Auckland won the Ford National Hockey Championship for the first time since 2015.
Steele, Auckland captain, joined Holcombe for the second half of last season’s Vitality Premier Division campaign and is set to return to take part in this season’s Vitality Division One South season.
Auckland lost their opening match (2-1 to Quinovic Wellington) before four consecutive wins earned them a place in the final. Auckland beat Otago 4-0 to bounce back from that defeat, with Steele on the scoresheet.
They made it back-to-back victories with a 2-0 win against Canterbury Cats, extending their winning run against North Harbour two days later in a 2-1 win.
Auckland’s pool campaign ended with another victory over Manawatu. Steele levelled the scores after Manawatu took an early lead.
Steele’s side took on North Harbour once more in the final, winning 2-1 to seal the K Cup trophy.
Image: Auckland Hockey