The Otago men's hockey team has claimed its first ever national provincial title.
Otago beat Wellington 4-2 in the final in Dunedin.
Otago with the Challenge Shield Photo: Joe Allison / BWMedia
The two sides had met the day before in pool play with Otago winning 1-0.
Otago scored 3 goals in 10 minutes just before half time and then added a fourth with 20 minutes to play.
A fightback was always on the cards for Wellington, with Graeme Murrell scoring two minutes later and captain Dane Lett scoring his third penalty corner goal of the tournament in the 54th minute to make it 4-2.
It proved too little, too late for the men from the capital, as the locals held on for an historic victory.
It was the first time the Otago men have won a national title and the first for the association since the women did it in 1987.
Canterbury beat North Harbour 2-1 in the women's final.
The win represented somewhat of a trifecta for Canterbury Women's hockey in 2022 after the association won the Under-18 National Championship while Christchurch Girl's High School claimed national school-girl honours at the Federation Cup.
The association championships was scheduled to return in 2020 but was delayed because of Covid.
It replaced the National League for regional teams that has been the top national tournament for the past 25 years.