Upsets in both top-four clashes on Sunday have gone a long way towards defining the Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League semi-finalists for 2018.
Joint ladder leaders Gosford and Norths (19 points) were overcome by equal third placed Souths and Wests (17) respectively, opening up a five-point buffer to closest rivals Maitland (12) who had the bye.
Mitchell Bisson scored twice for Souths in a 4-2 victory against title holders Gosford at Wyong while Wests, featuring a Chris Boyle double and a 47th minute winner to Blake Hinton, edged out last year’s grand finalists Norths 3-2 in Newcastle.
There are six rounds left in the regular season with play-offs set to start on the first weekend in September.
In the remaining round-15 encounter on Sunday and University are still winless after going down 3-0 to visitors The Entrance.
LADDER: Gosford, Norths 19; Souths, Wests 17; Maitland 12; The Entrance 6, University 0.
