Returness boost Wairarapa tourney chances

Two current national league players will be part of the Wairarapa squad at the national women's hockey tournament to be played in Wellington from September 28 to October 4, and a third may join them..
Striker Megan Hull and goalkeeper Sara Crofoot , who are playing in Manawatu's NHL line-up, have already confirmed their availability and there is a strong possibility that utility player Tara Hall, who is in the Wellington NHL side, will wear the Wairarapa colours as well.
Coach Nigel Goodin confirmed Hull and Crofoot had already received permission from Manawatu to represent Wairarapa but said Hall was still going down that track with Wellington who, unlike Manawatu, will also be fielding a team at the nationals.
Hull, Crofoot and Hall are all former Wairarapa age group representatives who have moved away to continue their studies and Goodin said in each case they had approached Wairarapa themselves with the idea of playing for them again.
"They appreciate what Wairarapa hockey did for them and obviously want to give something back,." he said.
Several other ex-Wairarapa players now resident outside the region will also be part of the Wairarapa squad. Laura Crawford, Pip Tocker, Carla Burt and Kelly Brown are based in Manwatu while Jess Davies is in Taranaki.
Goodin said there was absolutely no way Wairarapa could have fielded a competitive side without such a large number of "imports" but it did mean that preparation would be limited to just two training runs, the first of which this weekend will be without the NHL players.
"It's a bit like throwing them in at the deep end I know but they've basically all played together at some stage of the recent past and that's got to be a help," he said."And when you look at them they are a pretty determined bunch of players, I'm picking theyll relish the challenge.".
The Wairarapa squad,with Hall still to be confirmed, is: Janeen Bruce, Ana-May Playle, Wendy Hull, Sara Crofoot, Laura Crawford, Pip Tocker, Carla Burt, Jordan McGregor, Jess Davies, Kelly Brown, Amanda Pottinger, Jade Foreman, Jodi Graham, Morgan Percy.