Hockey: Double-header for national sides - tests galore

By TERRY MADDAFORD

John Mitchell's much-maligned "journey" which eventually went nowhere is little more than a weekend trip when compared with the big miles clocked by the national men's and women's hockey teams.

Since he picked up the reins again with the New Zealand men's team in mid-2000, Kevin Towns has watched 69 full internationals for a 30-win, 30-loss record in all parts of the world.

The women, too, have been on a "have stick, will travel" pilgrimage. On the merry-go-round for years, they have, in the past 16 months, played 39 times (for 11 wins, six draws and 22 losses) in Holland, England (Commonwealth Games), Macau (Champions Trophy), Perth (World Cup), Melbourne, Italy and Japan as well as a number of home tests.

Now, in a rare double-header, the national sides will follow each other on to the new turf at Lloyd Elsmore Park this weekend.

For the women, there are two tests against world No 1 Argentina, and the men will play tests today and tomorrow against Great Britain before heading to Mt Maunganui and Hamilton for another three internationals.

The women have played five series under new coach Ian Rutledge and will use these two matches against the exciting Argentines as another step on their build-up to March's Olympic qualifying tournament on the same pitch.

In their last two outings against the South Americans they have gone down 2-1 (in Auckland as part of a tri-series) and 1-0 (in their opening match at the World Cup in Perth late last year).

"Those games are history now," Rutledge said. "What we want to see from this series is where we are at - benchmark our progress over the past six months.

"These matches will confirm our strengths and expose areas we need to develop. We still have an open mind on selection for the Olympic qualifiers. All 25 players in our squad are still in contention.

"This will be a good test. I don't think the gaps in the top 10 teams are all that great."

Towns is also determined to get all he can from the five tests against a team who will also be in Madrid in March chasing an Olympic spot.

"I think they will be using this series for ongoing experimenting," Towns said. "They will, I'm sure, be looking to solidify their defence. As England they lost 4-0 to us at the Champions Challenge in South Africa in July. With that in mind, I'm sure they would see not conceding a goal against us this time as a victory.

"They have some good players. In Dave Matthews and Ben Hawes they have players capable of converting penalty corners. Tom Bertram is one of the best strikers of the ball in the world."

Towns, too, is using the series as part of his ongoing selection process.

First-choice goalkeeper Paul Woolford is unlikely to play this weekend.

Wellington's Kyle Pontifex will be in the cage this afternoon and the returning Michael Bevin will don the goalkeeper's kit tomorrow.

Drag flick expert Hayden Shaw will be on the bench today, leaving David Kosoof to take that responsibility.

New Zealand men for first test: Kyle Pontifex, Dean Couzins, Dion Gosling, Wayne McIndoe, Simon Towns (capt), Dharmesh Puna, Ryan Archibald, Mitesh Patel, Umesh Parag, Phil Burrows, David Kosoof. Substitutes: Paul Woolford, Hayden Shaw, Blair Hopping, Darren Smith, Gareth Brooks.

Great Britain (from): Shane Mason, Jimi Lewis, Craig Parnham, Niall Scott, Tom Bertram, Mark Pearn, Vishal Marwaha, Jerome Goudie, Ben Hawes, Danny Hall, Mike Johnson, Martin Jones, Barry Middleton, Robert Todd, Graham Moodie (capt), Jimmy Wallis.

New Zealand women for first test: Beth Jurgeleit, Lizzy Igasan, Di Weavers, Rachel Sutherland, Melody Rowe, Jo Galletly, Meredith Orr, Suzie Pearce, Niniwa Roberts-Lang, Lisa Walton, Kayla Sharland. Substitutes: Anne-Marie Irving, Jaimee Privan, Leisen Jobe, Caryn Paewai, Amanda Christie, Rachel Robertson, Tara Drysdale, Stacey Carr.