Hockey: Blossoming talent pushing claim for NZ hockey teams

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The emergence of many younger players is showing the benefits of a quickfire, early-season national hockey league.

Given the disappointment of the failure by the New Zealand men's team to qualify for the Sydney Olympics, there was a call for new blood in the national side.

Players such as Auckland's Sunil Unka, North Harbour's David Kosoof and Andrew Kay, Wellington's Scott Falconer, Canterbury's Bryce Collins, Blair Hopping of Midland Express and Northland's Jason Roberts have seized the opportunity to impress the selectors.

And while there is a more settled look to the Olympics-bound women's side, there have also been a number of women showing they, too, might not be far from an international call-up.

This weekend's Lion Foundation National League fixtures promise more of what has gone before - a feast of goals, close games and an upset or two.

With just five rounds of pool play over successive weekends to find the playoff contenders, there is little room for error.

Tomorrow's top-of-the-table women's clash between Canterbury and Auckland in Christchurch will almost certainly decide who will win home advantage for the final in a fortnight.

Even without injured international Tina Bell-Kake, Auckland have managed an average of almost eight goals a game in taking maximum points.

Victory tomorrow would give them real hope of ending the southerner's stranglehold on the title.

Wellington's home game against North Harbour tomorrow is crucial in their bid for home advantage in their likely spot in the third and fourth-place playoff.

North Harbour, who have played well at times but have let themselves down with crucial concentration lapses, must win if they are to move from the bottom of the table.

In the other women's game tomorrow, Manawatu, who came close to upsetting Auckland last week, should be too strong for Otago in Dunedin.

Defending men's champion Wellington must beat Auckland in Wellington today if they are to have any chance of retaining their title.

Wellington, who are yet to win a game, have failed to reproduce their brilliant form of last season.

But they are still capable of upsetting any side.

Canterbury, with only one point and entrenched at the bottom of the table, meet the ever-likely Northland side today.

Even the home advantage might not be enough to give Canterbury their first win.

North Harbour, who have impressed and lead the goal-scoring race, face a difficult away task against Midland Express in Hamilton tomorrow.

The Kevin Towns-coached side run a tight defensive ship and will make life difficult for the North Harbour side, who were unlucky to be defeated by Auckland last time out.