Dalefield look to history

Dalefield will be hoping history repeats itself when they meet Eastern Hutt in the grand final of the Wellington premier division women's hockey competition at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington tomorrow.
Twice before Dalefield have made the final of what is arguably the country's strongest club competition for women ? in 2002 and again in 2004 ? and both times they emerged as winners.
But as coach Kim Henson and skipper Janeen Bruce have been quick to emphasise this week a third title success will only come their way if they produce a top notch performance.
Henson and Bruce have been delighted with Dalefield's lead up form, which saw them head the competition table at the end of the preliminary rounds and then edge out a brave Indians 3-2 in last weekend's semi-finals.
However, they also recognise that with Eastern Hutt having a full strength side, including at least a couple of internationals, Dalefield will go into tomorrow's game as underdogs. A status given further credence by the last meeting between the two teams which Eastern Hutt won by a healthy six goal margin.
That defeat though is seen by Henson and Bruce as a possible catalyst to a Dalefield victory.
For it provided a classic illustration of what can happen at this level of the game when one team-in this case Dalefield- have an off day.
"It wasn't a so much a case of them playing well but us playing badly," Henson said. "We made it easy for them, we just had no spark at all. It was a great lesson what can happen if the focus isn't on."
The mark of any champion side is the ability to bounce back quickly from defeat and no one can quibble at the character and resolve of the Dalefield side which hasn't lost since then. However, they haven't met Eastern Hutt again in that time, their third round clash having been postponed and later declared as an 0-0 draw.
Both Henson and Bruce are intent on Dalefield playing the game at pace tomorrow, as they see their side having a possible edge in fitness, and they want to make the most of it, especially over the closing stages or maybe even in extra time.
"Our fitness has become a real strength in the last few games, and we see it as something which could be crucial in the end result," Henson said.
The fact they have a number of players with proven goal scoring capabilities is another definite plus for Dalefield, particularly against a strong defensive side like Eastern Hutt which have Black Stick Beth Jurgeleit in goal.
Bruce herself will obviously be a spearhead of the Dalefield attack, but it would be no surprise to see the names of others like Ana Playle, Thandi Grebe, Kim Harris and Wendy Hull on the scoresheet as well.
Dalefield will be mindful too of the dangers posed them by an Eastern Hutt forward line spearheaded by Black stick Niniwa Roberts. They rely on a somewhat physical approach in their attacking play, but coach Henson is confident that any "niggle" will be effectively dealt with by a Dalefield defence in which fullbacks Tania Scott and Laura Crawford and goalkeeper Sarah Crofoot will have prominent roles.
"We have players who don't mind fighting fire with fire so if gets rugged we won't be taking a backward step," he said. "Intimidation can be a powerful weapon in finals and we don't intend to let them dictate in that respect."
Henson knows the best way of perhaps creating doubt in the minds of their opposition is for Dalefield to get at least one goal up early in the piece and so a strong start is understandably right at the top of his wish list. Through the early part of this season Dalefield developed a habit of coming from behind to win or draw their games but just lately they have been starting with purpose and Henson wants that trend to continue tomorrow
"Getting the opposition into catch -up mode often means they take risks and create gaps in their own game, and it would be nice to think we could have them in that situation," he said.
For anybody intending to travel over the hill to lend vocal support to the Dalefield effort start time for the grand final is 2.40pm.