Hockey: Coach hopes tonight's third test will not feature more turf warfare

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand hockey coach Kevin Towns hopes the "nonsense" threatening to turn the series between his team and the visiting Indian team into turf warfare will not be an issue in the remaining two tests.

With a win in the first international and a draw in the second, New Zealand go into the third test tonight at Mt Albert Park, in Wellington, with a good chance of wrapping up the series.

Towns said Monday's second test in Ashburton was "a bit rugged" and that one or two of his players had been "lined-up" and dealt to by the Indians.

"I discussed it with the umpires, and while it is hard for them to rule intent, there were certainly some things I was not happy about. "The way Umesh Parag was lined-up and hit has no place in hockey at this level.

"It is silly stuff. Both teams are heading to the World Cup qualifiers and neither wants to lose, but we can do without these incidents."

Towns said he was not blaming the hits on Parag, Phil Burrows and Ryan Archibald for the result of the game, in which the visitors finished strongly by scoring from two late penalty corners to secure a 2-2 draw.

"Absolutely, I'm not blaming these incidents for the result.

"We capitulated down the left side, but to be fair, we again made changes in our line-up."

Both teams have been in Wellington for a couple of days, with the New Zealanders splitting their time between practice and a session with a sports psychologist.

Towns said he also hoped to find time to discuss the on-field problems with match umpires Jason McCracken - who was at last year's Olympic tournament - and Craig Gribble, who will be at the junior World Cup in Tasmania this year.

Brett Leaver, New Zealand's most experienced squad member with 142 caps, will again be missing tonight.

He has remained in Auckland with his wife, who is expecting their first child this week.

Towns remained hopeful that Leaver would be available for Saturday's fourth test at Auckland Grammar School.