Hockey: Captain No 3 ready to take on the Australians

By TERRY MADDAFORD AND NZPA

Suzie Pearce will captain the New Zealand women's hockey team for the three-match series against Australia, which begins in Wellington tonight.

The Wellingtonian, who will be playing her 124th international, is the third captain that coach Jan Borren has used in as many series this year as he continues his policy of rotating the leadership.

Pearce is unfazed by the promotion.

With key forward Mandy Smith out of the series because of injury, Pearce and Anna Lawrence, who captained the side until last year's Olympic Games campaign, have a lot of responsibility.

Lawrence is the side's most experienced player with 153 internationals. Last year, in pre-Olympic Games competition, she scored the three goals that ended Australia's 36-match winning streak over New Zealand.

Another key performer that day was goalkeeper Helen Clarke, who blocked most of Australia's 14 corner shots at goal.

New Zealand assistant coach Chris Leslie expects a tough game tonight, even though the Australians are a shadow of the side who won the gold medal in Sydney.

Leslie said: "Traditionally, they have been sound in defence, but of recent times there have been a few goals scored against them.

"It is [still] certainly going to be a tough task to penetrate that defence."

Among those charged with finding a way through are Wellington's Niniwa Roberts and Canterbury players Penny Munns and Jaimee Provan, who are all facing Australia for the first time.

The Australians, double Olympic and World Cup champions, are rebuilding after nine retirements from the Olympic team.

New coach David Bell also decided to leave experienced players Rachel Imison, Claire Mitchell-Taverner, Melanie Twitt, Carmel Souter and Karen Smith at home.

"It is a matter of getting a balance, of not burning out players, but also taking the chance to look at others," Bell said.

The midfield is under particular scrutiny, and Bell is keen to give his most-capped player, Alyson Annan, a run there.

Annan, 28, twice the International Federation's player of the year, has represented Australia 218 times, scoring 162 goals.

She has missed internationals this year while playing club hockey in Holland and conducting a coaching course in Pakistan.

Though Borren has settled on his squad for next month's Champion's Trophy in Holland, Bell will delay naming his side until after this series, which continues with tests in North Harbour (Saturday) and Hamilton (Sunday).

More than 1000 tickets have been pre-sold for tonight's game.

Wellington Hockey Association chairman Phil Benfield said out-of-town interest was high.

"We have sold tickets to people who have requested them from Nelson and the Horowhenua area."

Benfield expected the crowd to at least equal the 3000 who saw the New Zealand men play India in Wellington last month.

The series continues a busy year for New Zealand hockey teams.

All series - men and women - have been closely contested. This one promises to be no different.