Stepping up for Argentina

Life for Whangarei's Alana Millington is so hectic, she did not stop to celebrate her inclusion in the Black Sticks squad to play world champions Argentina in a three-match series.
Millington made her debut for the Black Sticks in 2007 against Australia, but took time off from playing hockey when she had her son Jordan Laybourn, who is now 17 months old. She returned to playing hockey with the NZ Development Squad last year, and was promoted into the Black Sticks to play India in 2010.
Now back to full fitness, the defender/midfielder with 12 caps was one of the new faces, along with former Northland player Jan Burrows (nee Rowsell), Canterbury's Sophie Devine, North Harbour's Petrea Webster and Amanda Green, included in the national squad to play Argentina.
After naming the squad to play the three-match series against Argentina starting on Saturday in Whangarei, Black Sticks coach Mark Hager also confirmed Millington, Devine, Burrows and Webster will step up from the Development Squad to be permanent players within the National Squad.
"I'm quite excited ... it will be cool to play at home as I haven't played an international there before, but I haven't really thought too much about it as I am so busy," Millington said.
The 22-year-old played solidly for the Black Sticks in their recent series win over Japan and for the Development Squad who played four games against Korea.
"I really enjoyed the series with Japan - they were a clean, tidy side out there just to play hockey, where as Korea are a lot rougher," Millington said.
She added she had noticed the difference of playing with the Development Squad compared to with the Black Sticks. "There is more structure and more set plays as the team spends more time together," Millington said.
Although she has never played Argentina, the current No1 women's team in the world, Millington said she knows the seventh ranked Black Sticks will find the Argentinian women to be a different kettle of fish to Korea (ranked eighth) and Japan (ninth).
"I'm a bit nervous ahead of the series - mainly about taking the bigger step up again. There is a big difference between the top four countries and then the next four below them. I've never played them at any age group but I have watched them and I'm not sure if they are bringing their top team but I expect they will be very sharp and bring a lot of skill and speed to the turf."
Along with a return to top-level hockey, Millington has recently also returned to work as an early childhood teacher at Educare North Tikipunga.
"I'm so busy with hockey that work is actually a good chance to spend some time with Jordan - as he attends the day care I work at. It's hard to make time for everything, but Jordan is pretty good about it all. He comes to see me at camp with my partner (Sean Laybourn) or my mum and luckily all the team love him - so he just hangs out with us there," she said.
While she has had to make a few sacrifices to get where she is, Millington would not have it any other way, and is happy to back on top of her game.