Hockey: Hunt on for strong squad

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The search for a strong New Zealand men's team to fulfil next year's heavy programme continues.

Coach Kevin Towns yesterday named 26 players for a series of trial matches and fitness testing at North Harbour from November 22 to 26.

Towns has excused Ryan Archibald, Blair Hopping and Phil Burrows, who have had a heavy schedule this year, including the World Cup qualifiers in Scotland and last month's Junior World Cup in Tasmania.

Goalkeeper Paul Woolford (being rested), Simon Towns, Bevan Hari and Michael Bevin (overseas) are also missing.

Sixteen of the trialists, who will play three matches at Rosedale Park, have already played for New Zealand. Members of the Junior World Cup team have also been named.

Former international Ken Robinson is returning from London to press his claims.

Canterbury's Andrew Hastie is the most notable omission, and the top scorer in the Lion Foundation National League, North Harbour's Andrew Kay, has been overlooked.

Towns has named Hugh Biss, Kyle Pontifex and James Igasan as goalkeepers in the absence of Bevin and Woolford.

This trio will join Bevin, Woolford, North Harbour's Pierre Jones, John Silvester of Canterbury and Waikato's Dean Armstrong for a goalkeeping clinic at North Harbour.

The clinic, either before or after the trials, will be under the eye of former New Zealand keepers Scott Anderson and Ian Woodley.

"The goalkeepers will be put through their paces," said Towns. The first stop for the national side will be a five-nation tournament in Kuala Lumpur from January 21 to 27.

The team for the World Cup, also in Malaysia in February, will be named after that.

Trialists: Dion Gosling, Brett Leaver, Sandeep Patel, Alpesh Puna, Dharmesh Puna, Ken Robinson (Auckland), Gareth Brooks, Bryce Collins, Hayden Shaw, Peter Stafford, Andrew Timlin (Canterbury), Shaun Barnett (Nelson), Hymie Gill, David Kosoof, Darren Smith, Lloyd Stephenson (North Harbour), James Igasan (Northland), Dean Couzins, Russell Gear (Otago), Hugh Biss, Wayne McIndoe, James Nation, Roshan Parag, Umesh Parag, Mitesh Patel, Kyle Pontifex (Wellington).