# 2018 Men's Ford National Hockey League

The 2018 Men's Ford National Hockey League was the 20th edition of the men's field hockey tournament. The competition was held in various cities across New Zealand, from 9 to 23 September.
Capital won the title for the fifth time, defeating North Harbour 3–2 in penalties, after the final finished as a 1–1 draw. Canterbury finished in third place after defeating Auckland 6–1.

## Participating teams

The following eight teams competed for the title:
* –– Auckland
* –– Canterbury
* –– Capital
* –– Central
* –– Midlands
* –– North Harbour
* –– Southern

## Results

All times are local (NZST).

### Preliminary round

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | WD | LD | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | –– Canterbury | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 16 | Advanced to Semi-Finals |
| 2 | –– Capital | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 14 | Advanced to Semi-Finals |
| 3 | –– Auckland | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 14 | Advanced to Semi-Finals |
| 4 | –– North Harbour | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 17 | +9 | 12 | Advanced to Semi-Finals |
| 5 | –– Central | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 9 | |
| 6 | –– Midlands | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 8 | |
| 7 | –– Southern | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 20 | −10 | 6 | |

#### Fixtures

* 9 September 2018 13:30
| Southern –– | 1–5 | –– Canterbury |
| Ward 40' | Report | Lane 6', 40', 42' Brydon 15' Summers 53' |
* McMillan Hockey Centre, Dunedin Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL) Nicholas Saunders (NZL)
* 9 September 2018 14:00
| Midlands –– | 1–0 | –– Auckland |
| Weber 6' | Report | |
* Gallagher Hockey Centre, Hamilton Umpires: Benjamin Wilson (NZL) Lee Erskine (NZL)
* 9 September 2018 14:00
| Capital –– | 5–0 | –– Central |
| Kepes 14', 44' Lett 29' Finlayson 53' Miskimmin 60' | Report | |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL) Simon Taylor (NZL)
* 11 September 2018 19:30
| Auckland –– | 3–3 | –– North Harbour |
| Crooks 8', 15' Keaney 15' | Report | Bennett 26', 32', 50' |
| Penalties |||
| McGeorge Keaney O'Connor Fraser | 2–0 | S. Edwards Guy Jeram Symonds |
* Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium, Auckland Umpires: Bruce Brownsey (NZL) Bevan Nichol (NZL)
* 13 September 2018 19:30
| North Harbour –– | 10–2 | –– Midlands |
| S. Edwards 5', 50' Bennett 7' Greentree 30' B. Edwards 35' Capizzi 42', 57' Hendricks 54' Wild 57' Jeram 58' | Report | Weber 38' Scanlon 50' |
* North Harbour Hockey Stadium, Auckland Umpires: Simon Taylor (NZL) Bruce Brownsey (NZL)
* 15 September 2018 12:00
| Canterbury –– | 2–0 | –– Auckland |
| Brydon 28' Bain 55' | Report | |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Benjamin Grant (NZL) Simon Taylor (NZL)
* 15 September 2018 14:00
| Southern –– | 0–3 | –– Central |
| | Report | Thomas 20', 59' Hiha 50' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL) Bruce Brownsey (NZL)
* 15 September 2018 16:30
| North Harbour –– | 2–3 | –– Capital |
| Bennett 29' Capizzi 40' | Report | Harris 20' Yeo 24' Finlayson 43' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Nicholas Saunders (NZL) David Tomlinson (NZL)
* 16 September 2018 12:30
| Canterbury –– | 3–2 | –– Midlands |
| Pollard 3' Summers 10' Bain 26' | Report | Weber 29' Wyndham-Smith 58' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL) Lee Erskine (NZL)
* 16 September 2018 16:30
| Central –– | 1–4 | –– Auckland |
| Peel 13' | Report | Smith 25', 43', 55' A. Panchia 37' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Benjamin Grant (NZL) Nicholas Saunders (NZL)
* 17 September 2018 11:00
| Southern –– | 2–4 | –– North Harbour |
| Thomas 13' Davidson 58' | Report | Jeram 21' Bennett 38', 44' Bartholomew 55' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL) Benjamin Grant (NZL)
* 17 September 2018 13:00
| Capital –– | 3–1 | –– Midlands |
| MacIntyre 26' Buddle 54' Harris 55' | Report | Wyndham-Smith 25' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Simon Taylor (NZL) Bruce Brownsey (NZL)
* 18 September 2018 11:00
| Central –– | 4–4 | –– North Harbour |
| Cohen 9' McAleese 28' Phillips 46' Peel 60' | Report | Bennett 29', 49' Capizzi 39' S. Edwards 46' |
| Penalties |||
| McAleese Hiha Thomas Atkinson Cronin —— Thomas McAleese | 2–3 | Muir Capizzi Jeram Coughlan Symonds —— Muir Capizzi |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Bruce Brownsey (NZL) Nicholas Saunders (NZL)
* 18 September 2018 13:00
| Auckland –– | 2–0 | –– Southern |
| Hami-Jones 45' McGeorge 53' | Report | |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL) Lee Erskine (NZL)
* 18 September 2018 15:00
| Canterbury –– | 2–2 | –– Capital |
| Brydon 24' Lane 58' | Report | MacIntyre 8' Harris 60' |
| Penalties |||
| Pollard Lane Newman Bain | 3–2 | Hilton Harris Miskimmin Lett Van Woerkom |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Benjamin Grant (NZL) David Tomlinson (NZL)
* 19 September 2018 15:00
| Central –– | 4–3 | –– Canterbury |
| Thomas 19', 45' Peel 43' Phillips 53' | Report | Lane 7' Darling 30' Pollard 51' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Lee Erskine (NZL) Bevan Nichol (NZL)
* 19 September 2018 17:00
| Midlands –– | 2–3 | –– Southern |
| Milicich 11' Weber 59' | Report | Buschl 9' Gilbert 45', 48' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL) Bruce Brownsey (NZL)
* 19 September 2018 19:00
| Auckland –– | 2–0 | –– Capital |
| A. Panchia 17' Crooks 35' | Report | |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Simon Taylor (NZL) Benjamin Grant (NZL)
* 20 September 2018 17:00
| Midlands –– | 4–3 | –– Central |
| Weber 3', 10' Wyndham-Smith 11' Neild 37' | Report | Thomas 19', 47' Phillips 52' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Nicholas Saunders (NZL) Simon Taylor (NZL)
* 20 September 2018 19:00
| North Harbour –– | 3–3 | –– Canterbury |
| Wild 15' Muir 31' Bennett 53' | Report | Jackson 18' Newman 39' Bain 50' |
| Penalties |||
| Muir Guy Capizzi | 0–3 | Pollard Newman Bain |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Bevan Nichol (NZL) David Tomlinson (NZL)
* 21 September 2018 19:00
| Capital –– | 4–4 | –– Southern |
| Yeo 11' Lett 41', 60' Van Woerkom 60' | Report | Ward 20' Davidson 33' Gilbert 44' Thomas 53' |
| Penalties |||
| Buckley Buddle Bolhuis Finlayson Jongejan | 1–2 | Ward Davidson Thorn Buschl |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Lee Erskine (NZL) Bevan Nichol (NZL)

### Classification round
#### Fifth to seventh place classification

| Crossover | Crossover | Fifth Place | Fifth Place |
| | | 23 September 2018 | 23 September 2018 |
| | | –– Central | 7 |
| 22 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 | | –– Central | 7 |
| 22 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 | –– Midlands | 2 |
| –– Midlands | 3 | –– Midlands | 2 |
| –– Southern | 2 | | |

##### Crossover

* 22 September 2018 12:15
| Midlands –– | 3–2 | –– Southern |
| Weber 9' Herewini 42' Milicich 42' | Report | Gilbert 27' Ward 54' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Nicholas Saunders (NZL) Bevan Nichol (NZL)

##### Fifth and sixth place

* 23 September 2018 11:30
| Central –– | 7–2 | –– Midlands |
| Spackman 7' Peel 10' Atkinson 21', 39' Hanks 22' Thomas 37', 52' | Report | Andrews 24' Weber 51' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Benjamin Grant (NZL) Bruce Brownsey (NZL)

#### First to fourth place classification

| Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Final | Final |
| 22 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 |
| –– Canterbury | 2 |
| –– Canterbury | 2 | 23 September 2018 | 23 September 2018 |
| –– North Harbour | 3 | 23 September 2018 | 23 September 2018 |
| –– North Harbour | 3 | –– North Harbour | 1 (2) |
| 22 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 | | –– North Harbour | 1 (2) |
| 22 September 2018 | 22 September 2018 | –– Capital (pen.) | 1 (3) |
| –– Capital | 2 | –– Capital (pen.) | 1 (3) |
| –– Auckland | 1 | | |
| –– Auckland | 1 | Third Place | Third Place |
| | | 23 September 2018 | 23 September 2018 |
| | | –– Canterbury | 6 |
| | | –– Auckland | 1 |

##### Semi-finals

* 22 September 2018 14:00
| Canterbury –– | 2–3 | –– North Harbour |
| Pollard 7', 49' | Report | Capizzi 23' Jeram 29' Bennett 34' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL) Lee Erskine (NZL)
* 22 September 2018 16:00
| Capital –– | 2–1 | –– Auckland |
| Lett 60' Jongejan 60' | Report | Smith 53' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Simon Taylor (NZL) Benjamin Grant (NZL)

##### Third and fourth place

* 23 September 2018 11:45
| Canterbury –– | 6–1 | –– Auckland |
| Bain 2', 30' Lane 5', 54', 57' Pollard 22' | Report | Smith 49' |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Lee Erskine (NZL) Bevan Nichol (NZL)

##### Final

* 23 September 2018 16:00
| North Harbour –– | 1–1 | –– Capital |
| Jeram 57' | Report | Buddle 3' |
| Penalties |||
| Coughlan Capizzi Jeram Edwards Muir —— Jeram | 2–3 | Hilton Van Woerkom Miskimmin Lett Harris —— Van Woerkom |
* National Hockey Stadium, Wellington Umpires: Simon Taylor (NZL) David Tomlinson (NZL)

## Statistics
### Final standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | WD | LD | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| | –– Capital | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 20 | Gold Medal |
| | –– North Harbour | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 20 | +10 | 17 | Silver Medal |
| | –– Canterbury | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 16 | +10 | 20 | Bronze Medal |
| 4 | –– Auckland | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 15 | −2 | 14 | |
| 5 | –– Central | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 13 | |
| 6 | –– Midlands | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 31 | −14 | 12 | |
| 7 | –– Southern | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 23 | −11 | 6 | |

### Goalscorers

There were 140 goals scored in 27 matches, for an average of 5.19 goals per match.
11 goals
* –– Cory Bennett
8 goals
* –– Samuel Lane
* –– Dylan Thomas
* –– Mark Weber
5 goals
* –– Jacob Smith
* –– Richard Bain
* –– Joshua Pollard
* –– Robert Capizzi
4 goals
* –– Dane Lett
* –– Jason Peel
* –– Kalyan Jeram
* –– Jack Gilbert
3 goals
* –– Joseph Crooks
* –– David Brydon
* –– Daniel Harris
* –– Hayden Phillips
* –– Maks Wyndham-Smith
* –– Steven Edwards
* –– Finn Ward
2 goals
* –– Arun Panchia
* –– Trent Summers
* –– Sebastian Buddle
* –– Nicholas Finlayson
* –– Gabriel Kepes
* –– Oliver MacIntyre
* –– Rowan Yeo
* –– Martin Atkinson
* –– Stirling Milicich
* –– Warren Wild
* –– Lachlan Davidson
* –– Dylan Thomas
1 goal
* –– Tarrant Hami-Jones
* –– Jonathan Keaney
* –– Hamish McGeorge
* –– Lawrence Darling
* –– Moss Jackson
* –– Dominic Newman
* –– Daan Jongejan
* –– Harrison Miskimmin
* –– Benedict van Woerkom
* –– Jordan Cohen
* –– Joseph Hanks
* –– Samuel Hiha
* –– Shea McAleese
* –– Dion Spackman
* –– Reuben Andrews
* –– Connor Herewini
* –– Timothy Neild
* –– Daniel Scanlon
* –– Joseph Bartholomew
* –– Benji Edwards
* –– Connor Greentree
* –– Kenneth Hendricks
* –– George Muir
* –– Malachi Buschl
Source: Hockey New Zealand