Fenwick hopes Indians will have a bad day

You might think Dalefield men's hockey coach Mark Fenwick would have some misgivings over his side confronting competition front runners Indians in a Wellington premier division match at Clareville on Saturday.
After all it is the feature game on the day the new Trust House water turf at Clareville is officially opened and with Indians having beaten them 10-0 and 6-0 in two previous meetings this season Dalefield are basically on a hiding to nothing.
For Fenwick, however, the opportunity for the Wairarapa hockey community to celebrate their latest facility will be enhanced by having a side as skilful as Indians displaying their wares.
"They are a class act and people who come along to watch them will be amazed at how skilful they are," Fenwick said. "They are entertainers too, they will launch attacks from anywhere and they have flair to burn."
So talented are Indians, in fact, that Fenwick admits they are a nightmare to coach against.
If you decided to throw caution to the wind and go all-out attack you might score three or four goals but they would capitalise on any mistakes and probably score 15 of their own.
And if you took the other tack and elected to place huge emphasis on defence you might keep the score below double figures, but probably not by much.
"Whichever way you go they are likely to score plenty of goals, that's how classy they are," he said. "Obviously though they are also capable of having a bad day, and that's what you have to hope for."
Fenwick is encouraged by Dalefield being at full strength for Saturday's game and while work commitments mean he himself will be missing he expects his side to also give their supporters something to cheer about.
"We mightn't have the stars they do but we are capable of playing some entertaining hockey as well," he said. "Anybody looking on will be impressed I'm sure."
The Dalefield women's team also plays Indians at Clareville on Saturday in what is basically the curtain-raiser to the men's match and they will have revenge on their minds after having lost 6-2 and 2-0 in their earlier games this season.
Dalefield fielded a depleted combination in the first of those fixtures and competed strongly in the second and victory this weekend is certainly not beyond them.
Saturday's opening of the Trust House turf will happen before the women's game at 12.30pm with representatives from many of the supporting organisations joining in the celebrations.