Dalefield win 'a big step up'

Player-coach Willie Schaefer believes two factors were key in Dalefield's impressive 5-2 win over Hutt in their Wellington premier division men's hockey match at Clareville on Saturday.
Firstly there was the tightness of their defence and, secondly, their ability to retain possession for long periods.
Mindful that lapses in both those areas had cost Dalefield dearly in their 5-3 defeat by University the previous weekend, Schaefer was understandably keen to see his players make major improvements against the highly-regarded Hutt combination - and he was delighted with their response.
Defensively they had upped the ante right across the field while their attack was given greater sting by several passes being strung together on a regular basis.
"We did the basics better, we were a lot more controlled in just about everything we did," Schaefer said. "It was a big step up and that's what we were looking for."
Schaefer says the importance of a tight defence can never be underestimated at the top club level, with each of the opposing teams guaranteed to have players with the speed and skills to capitalise on any lapses in that department.
"Against University we dropped the intensity of the defence for only 10 or 15 minutes and paid the price," he said. "It meant we lost a game we probably should have won, and that hurts."
Dalefield will play Indians at the National Hockey Stadium this Saturday and while Schaefer is confident his side can take their scalp he is expecting a battle royal against a side with a well-earned reputation for the slickness of their attack.
"There's no room for any complacency, none at all," he said.