Hockey: Steady effort name of game

Players will try out to find a back-up for goalie Sally Rutherford at the Commonwealth Games. Photo / Christine Cornege

Coach says consistency will be difference when it comes to hockey medals at Glasgow

It's been a bugbear of coach Mark Hager and his players that they have struggled to string quality performances together.

The most recent occasion was at the World Cup in The Hague this month, when a 1-0 loss to Korea in pool play severely damaged their semifinal aspirations.

"Because we have so many young kids, they were learning the value of every instance within a game. That's the biggest thing they learned," Hager said.

"A lot of our players aren't consistent at the moment; that's what you get from young players, a really good performance and one not so good in the next game. We don't seem to have a medium ground, so I hope we've learned those lessons."

Hager named his squad of 16 for the Games yesterday, omitting young striker Michaela Curtis and goalkeeper Bianca Russell from the 18 who contested the World Cup.

An audition is looming to settle on a back-up goalkeeper for Sally Rutherford. Most teams opt for just one keeper, preferring not to sacrifice an extra outfielder.

Russell will be in Ireland where the squad have a pre-Games tournament and will stay and train there. But once the opening day arrives, the 16 are locked in.

"We'll put a bit of a feeler out to the group. We've got three weeks to give them a bit of an opportunity," Hager said.

He's not expecting miracles -- "all we want is the basics, if they can stop the ball".

Captain Kayla Whitelock felt the disappointment of finishing second at Delhi four years ago, beaten to the gold by Australia in a penalty shootout.

"I certainly want to finish one better than my last Games," she said yesterday.

New Zealand are back up to fourth in the latest world rankings. They play South Africa (11th), India (13th), Canada (22nd) and Trinidad and Tobago (31st) in pool play.

Second-ranked Australia, with whom they drew 0-0 at the World Cup, and sixth-ranked England shape up as their biggest medal rivals.

New Zealand have a four-nation tournament in Dublin - playing hosts Ireland, Chile and Canada - from July 12 to 16 before going into the athletes' village.

Yesterday's announcement means the men's Black Sticks and the seven rugby team are the only athletes still to be named for a New Zealand team expected to number 235.

New Zealand women's hockey team for the Commonwealth Games

Goalkeeper: Sally Rutherford (Midlands)

Defenders: Emily Naylor (Central), Liz Thompson (Auckland), Sam Charlton, Rose Keddell (Midlands), Rhiannon Dennison (North Harbour).

Midfielders: Kayla Whitelock (c, Central), Petrea Webster (North Harbour), Anita Punt (Capital), Stacey Michelsen (Northland), Jordan Grant (Canterbury), Gemma Flynn (Midlands).

Strikers: Katie Glynn, Krystal Forgesson (Auckland), Olivia Merry, Sophie Cocks (Canterbury). Players will try out to find a back-up for goalie Sally Rutherford at the Commonwealth Games. Picture / PhotosportConsistency will be one of the big ambitions of the New Zealand women's hockey team as they prepare to challenge for medals at the Commonwealth Games.