Hockey: Defence exposed against Indians

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Defensive shortcomings exposed in the four-test series against the touring Indians have led New Zealand coach Kevin Towns to call in Auckland fullback Alpesh Puna for next month's World Cup qualifying tournament in Scotland.

Of the 17 team members who played against India, who wrapped up the series with a 4-1 win on Saturday at Auckland Grammar School, Waikato midfielder Dharmesh Puna has given way to Alpesh Puna.

Dharmesh Puna and Hymie Gill played two tests each against India, with Gill playing in Dunedin and Ashburton and Puna in Wellington and Auckland.

"The Indians again showed we had work to do on our left side," said Towns. "I feel there is a need to get a balance and it is obvious we will be better served by having four players who we can rotate at fullback."

Brett Leaver, who did not play against India, and Dion Gosling will give the much-needed experience at the back in Edinburgh. They will be joined by Mitesh Patel and young Otago defender Dean Couzins, who continues to impress.

Gosling can also play in the halves, where he could join captain Simon Towns, Wayne McIndoe, Gill or Blair Hopping.

"I feel we have come up with the right mix," said Towns, after watching the Indians end their tour with a 2-0 win over NZ Indians yesterday. "This is a very important tournament.

"We have looked at close to 30 players in our matches against Pakistan, Argentina, Malaysia, Australia and now India."

There were obvious concerns from Saturday's test even though the New Zealanders had wrapped the series up with their win in Wellington two days earlier.

They missed two early penalty corner chances and then a penalty stroke, when Bevan Hari hit the upright after goalkeeper Jude Menezes had dived the wrong way.

After 55 minutes, India went ahead when captain Baljit Singh Dhillon scooped a stroke into the top of the goal. New Zealand had been caught out when the umpires could not agree which way to award a free hit on halfway. The Indians seized that advantage, broke quickly and won the stroke.

A second goal, a classic reverse-stick shot and the first of three for livewire striker Gagan Ajith Singh, a minute later put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Phil Burrows got one back with a simple tap in on the hour but Gagan grabbed two more to complete the victory.

The two teams meet again in Edinburgh on July 19 in the second pool match for both teams. New Zealand will have warm-up games against England under-21, England and Japan before their first qualifier, against Egypt on July 18. Their last pool match is against Wales on July 21.