Dunedin Thunder defeated West Auckland Admirals 10-4 in the NZIHL on 8 August 2026. The result came exactly one day after the visitors had beaten the hosts 9-4 in what proved to be a quick turnaround for both sides.
Before the match Dunedin sat second in the table with nine wins from sixteen games. West Auckland occupied third place with eight victories and eight defeats. Neither side had registered a draw this season.
The two encounters over forty-eight hours showed how quickly fortunes can shift in this league. West Auckland had carried momentum into Thursday's game but Dunedin responded with a comprehensive performance at home.
The visitors had shown vulnerability in recent outings, losing 8-1 and 4-3 to Southern Stampede in late July. Dunedin, meanwhile, had won three of their last four matches before accepting a heavy defeat on Wednesday.
The victory moves Dunedin closer to the top of the standings while extending West Auckland's winless run to two games. Both teams remain level on games played, but the gap between them may soon widen.