By TERRY MADDAFORD
Charting unknown waters presents an added challenge to the North Harbour men's team when they tackle Northland in this afternoon's national hockey league final at Rosedale Park, Albany.
North Harbour have never won the Challenge Shield, whereas their northern neighbours tasted success as recently as 1996.
But it is not
all against the Bill Webb-coached side.
In Hymie Gill and Darren Smith, and guest players Brett Leaver and Richard Tattershaw, they have invaluable experience and players who have succeeded at this level.
Victory in the Lion Foundation League final would be especially sweet for Webb, who played in North Harbour's first representative side, in 1984.
Harbour beat Northland in their controversial final round-robin match a fortnight ago but finished the match without goalkeeper Richard Mrkusich.
Initially, Webb feared Mrkusic would miss the final, but on appeal, that decision was reversed.
North Harbour have been on the wrong side of a couple of dubious umpire's calls, leading Webb to suggest that if he can keep all his players on the Rosedale Park turf for 70 minutes, the association could celebrate an epic victory.
"If we start well and can play with a bit of flair, I'm confident we can win," Webb said.
"In our captain, Richard Redfearn, we have a player well aware of the significance of the game.
"Add in the experience of the players who have played and won finals before and we should do well."
Webb said there would be no sweeping changes in his starting line-up, which should mean youngsters David Kosoof and Andrew Kay should get the chance to add to their goal-scoring record.
Northland are an accomplished unit with experience across their team. Well led by Blair Scott and with support from hard-working Craig Reynolds, Jason Roberts and Russell Gear, they will be no easybeats.
The difference in the end might be the goal-scoring ability of the Redfearn-led Harbour attack.
Pre-season favourites Auckland, fourth in round-robin play, meet Midland Express in the playoff for third at Pukekohe in a last-gasp effort to salvage something from a disappointing season.
In the fifth/sixth play-off, defending champions Wellington are at home to Canterbury in the battle to avoid the need to have to front up for the promotion-relegation battle later in the season.
