Hockey: Aucklanders chasing consecutive titles

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Hockey bosses will be hoping the recent successes of New Zealand's national teams spill over to the national league, which hits off today.

The fourth season under league, rather than tournament, format promises to be as close as ever, with defending champions Auckland in both the men's and women's competitions under pressure in their chase for consecutive titles.

Auckland, who needed a goal from a penalty corner in extra time to beat North Harbour to take the men's championship last season, will again be the team to beat, although they will have to do it without star inside-forward Ryan Archibald, who has opted to bypass the league to take a well-earned rest.

Coach Keith Rowley has a strong team who will go in as favourites but will be aware of the threat posed by Wellington and Canterbury after bold showings in this month's Metro League.

Auckland were made to work for a 2-1 win over Northland in a warm-up game, and Northland had earlier thumped North Harbour 4-1 in another pre-season outing.

Canterbury have new-found international star Hayden Shaw, the top goalscorer at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, as the ace in their challenge to regain their former glory days.

In the three years of the Lion Foundation-sponsored league, Canterbury have managed only fourth (twice) and sixth. They are better than that.

So are Wellington, who were third last year and fifth in 2000 after winning in the inaugural season.

In Umesh Parag, Wellington have New Zealand's most experienced international (male or female).

National coach Kevin Towns will continue his search for a back-up goalkeeper for Auckland's Paul Woolford.

Canterbury's Michael Bevin was on the bench in Manchester but faces a strong challenge from Northland's James Igasan, Kyle Pontifex from Wellington and David Rankin of Midland Express.

The Auckland women also face challenges from Canterbury and Wellington.

Coach Simon Norton still has goalkeeper Helen Clarke and former New Zealand captain Sandy Bennett and new international Karen Syddall to provide the basis of a strong defensive unit, but Auckland might not be so well served on attack.

Michelle Turner, who impressed for the national side, will play a key role for Canterbury. She will be joined by fellow internationals Diana Weavers and Carol Ward.

Wellington have Niniwa Roberts-Lang as their attacking spearhead. She will be joined by Southlander Colleen Gubb-Suddaby in what should be one of the most potent strike forces in the league.

Lizzy Igasan, who missed the Commonwealth Games and the Champions Trophy in Macau through injury, is expected to return and will play as a guest for North Harbour. She will be joined by fellow internationals Paula Enoka and Jaimee Provan.

Waikato, who won promotion at Otago's expense, face a tough introduction, although they have one of New Zealand's most experienced players, Robbie Mathews, to fire them up.

The league will be played over successive weekends until the fifth round, which will be played on Thursday, October 3. Albany's Rosedale Park will host the semifinals and fifth-sixth playoffs. The finals, and third-fourth playoffs, will be played at the same venue on October 6.

Women. -

Auckland: Sandy Bennett, Sian Bremner, Jessica Brewster, Charlotte Burtt, Helen Clarke, Dannaka Dorrington, Krystal Forgesson, Frances Kreft, Kate Mackay, Marcelle Malan, Kim Noakes, Meredith Orr, Jan Rowsell, Jenny Shepherd, Karen Syddall, Megan Thomas, Roberta Thornley. Coach: Simon Norton.

Canterbury: Stacey Carr, Amanda Christie, Nikki Grimwood, Kirsten Hatton, Anne-Marie Irving, Helene Isaac, Karen Mee, Catherine Milne, Penny Munns, Keryn Nicholas, Rachel Robertson, Hilary Thompson, Michelle Turner, Rebecca Saunders, Carol Ward, Diana Weavers. Coach: Shirley Haig.

Manawatu: Cushla Bowie, Angela Croad, Jonelle Culling, Helen Haggas, Andrea Harnett, Piki Hamahona, Annette Jenkins, Pania Mateparae, Jayne McNae, Pamela Meyer, Peta Milne, Emily Naylor, Sheree Phillips, Melody Rowe, Amanda Schaefer, Kayla Sharland, Moira Senior, Gene Walker, Anita Wawatai. Coach: Terry Kennedy.

North Harbour: Charleen Antony, Sheree Carter, Bridget Dey, Paula Enoka, Connie Igasan, Lizzy Igasan, Karolina Kazdova, Kate Mahon, Jenni Martin, Toni Mason, Suzette Nightingale, Jaimee Provan, Michelle Roscoe, Sally Rutherford, Bianca Russell, Selina Scampton, Desiree Watson. Coach: Bronwyn Rees.

Waikato: Katrina Carson, Vicky Clarke, Katie Cockrem, Maria Dunn, Jacqui Forsyth, Whetu Hamahona, Candy Hart, Sue Hill, Renae Hurihanganui, Bryonie Hutchinson, Emma Jensen, Sheryl Lacy, Robbie Matthews, Kylie Morgan, Nicky Pearce, Susan Rawcliffe, Rachel Saunders, Helen Tooman. Coach: Doug Sommerville.

Wellington: Priya Bhikha, Lisa Bishop, Gerry Blair, Chris Burns, Colleen Gubb-Suddaby, Beth Jurgeleit, Leah Murphy, Jackie Nuthall, Caryn Paewai, Suzie Pearce, Janeen Playle, Niniwa Roberts-Lang, Trish Ross, Naomi Swainson, Rachel Sutherland, Tracey Thurston, Stacey Wright. Coach: Paul Ackerly.

Men. -

Auckland: Taine Bennett, Jonathan Brooker, Dean Couzins, Kieran Daji, Richard Dayman, Simon Galt, Dion Gosling, Bevan Hari, Troy Hari, Umesh Hari, Anil Jasmat, Mark Laurence, Phil Lowe, Rakesh Parsotam, Mark Pooley, Dharmesh Puna, Mark Ramage, Ryan Wilson, Paul Woolford. Coach: Keith Rowley.

Canterbury: Jeremy Allen, Mark Berwick, Michael Bevin, Chris Clements, Bryce Collins, Hugh Copland, Mark Ford, Russell Gear, Hamish Howard, Andy McIntosh, Rajeev Menon, Simon Munt, Craig Reynolds, Andrew Robertson, Hayden Shaw, Peter Stafford, Jeremy Symonds, Andrew Timlin. Coach: Andrew Hastie.

Midland Express: Dean Armstrong, Brad Bellamy, Craig Bigham, David Burns, Leighton Hammond, Toby Hammond, Yogesh Hari, Casey Henwood, Blair Hopping, Tony Hopping, Andre LeClair, Ian Morgan, Warren Phillips, Alpesh Puna, Sandeep Puna, David Rankin, Carl Sanders. Coach: Sue McLeish.

North Harbour: Shaun Barnett, Simon Brill, Steve Gardiner, Steve Heard, Sinclair Hill, Pierre Jones, Andrew Kay, David Kosoof, Andrew Newson, Xavier Reckinger, Daniel Shaw, Darren Smith, Jaime Smith, Lloyd Stephenson, Stu Sutherland, Krishna Unka, Steve Waldron. Coach: Manoj Daji.

Northland: Hayden Baker, Dean Child, John Child, Bevan Gibbs, David Heappey, James Igasan, Angus Lindsay, Mark McLeod, Mark Meyer, Brent Salmon, David Samuels, Gary Sands, Blair Scott, Christian Stanton, Mark Thorne, Robbie Towns, Graham Warren, Dion Watts. Coach: Ross McLeod.

Wellington: Nicco Borren, Phil Burrows, Julian Clarke, Grant Down, Chris Eastlake, Scott Falconer, Graham Helps, Dharmesh Lala, Hemant Lala, Wayne McIndoe, Alister McIntyre, Robert McIntyre, James Nation, Roshan Parag, Umesh Parag, Hitesh Patel, Mitesh Patel, Kyle Pontifex, Jaime Schaefer. Coach: Peter Miskimmin.