Hope winning squad will remain intact

CLOSE CONTACT: Ben van Woerkom (left) looks to round an Indians defender.

DALEFIELD skipper Dane Lett is optimistic the bulk of the squad that won their first Wellington premier division men's hockey title will be together next season.

Lett was a leading figure in a move where several former Dalefield players who had been playing for Wellngton-based clubs returned to the Dalefield fold to not only boost the profile of that club, but Wairarapa hockey.

It was a move which had instant success. Dalefield finished the two preliminary rounds 13 points clear of their nearest rivals, coming from 2-0 to beat Harbour City 3-2 in the semis and then defeating Indians in a memorable final at the National Hockey Stadium on Saturday. The two sides were level pegging at the end of ordinary time and two periods of extra time and Dalefield won in a penalty shootout.

Lett said there were no guarantees the entire Dalefield squad would be back to defend their title next season but there was every likelihood the majority would be on deck again.

"A lot can happen between the end of this season and the start of next but right now I'd expect most of the guys to be back again," Lett said. "It's just a different challenge now. Rather than worrying about winning the title for the first time we have to go out there and make a decent job of defending it."

Lett was delighted with the manner in which his side handled the pressures of the big occasion on Saturday although he concedes the game shouldn't have gone as far as a penalty shootout.

"I thought we were clearly the better side in both periods of extra time but we just couldn't get the ball in the net. That was a bit frustrating."

Come the penalty shootout, however, Lett was still confident Dalefield would have the upper hand. He said they had talked a couple of weeks earlier about what would happen should they arrive at this situation in either the semi or final, and therefore there was no debate on the day.

Lett, Rowan Yeo, Nick Finlayson, Trent Lett and Ben van Woerkom, would have the shooting responsibilities and goalkeeper Fletcher Phillips would have the job of defending the Dalefield goal.

All six did their job brilliantly. Both teams netted their first three shots but after Dalefield made it 4-3 Phillips pulled off what was to be a crucial save. Up stepped Van Woerkom to score number five for Dalefield and the title was theirs.

"I guess you could say everything went according to plan for us," Lett said. "We got the goals and Fletcher was outstanding, he almost saved a couple of the other Indians goals that went in as well."

Lett said there was no question in his mind that a strong team culture had played a huge part in Dalefield's championship success.

"We had a great group of guys who really got on well together, a great management structure and a big determination to put Dalefield on the map, it all came together perfectly," he said.