Hockey: India tournament a stick in spokes

The loss of key players to the Indira Ghandi tournament in India midway through the competition has thrown an X-factor into this year's women's National Hockey League.

Players on Black Sticks duty will miss the fifth and sixth rounds of the Lion Foundation-sponsored league, which includes two key games for the defending champion Central side.

New coach Dennis Slade will be without Anita Wawatai, Kayla Sharland, Sheree Phillips and Emily Naylor for their home matches against Canterbury and Wellington.

The match against Wellington on October 2 is a replay of last year's final with Chris Leslie, who coached Central last season, now at the helm in Wellington.

The uncertainty thrown up by the intervention of the internationals adds to the puzzle and should ensure the battle for the top four to play-off at finals weekend in Christchurch will go to the wire.

Central, Canterbury and Wellington - although they have been hit by the expected unavailability of Niniwa Roberts-Lang for the early part of their season at least - will expect to make it through.

The scramble will be on for that fourth place with North Harbour, Auckland and possibly Southern pressing hard.

Lizzy Igasan, who opted out of the tour to India after a busy year, will provide the anchor for North Harbour as they chase a first final appearance.

New coach Brent Edwards acknowledges the Harbour women have been under-achievers on the national stage.

"If we can overcome our injury problems I think we can get there [to the final]," said Edwards. "We have concerns at the moment with Jan Rowsell and will lose Jaimee Provan and Kate Mahon to the Black Sticks.

North Harbour tried to get a guest player but failed in their attempt to get South African Pietie Coetzee, who has scored 170 goals in 150 games, because she is injured.

"Like some other teams we don't have a drag-flicker but feel comfortable with our penalty corner variations," said Edwards.

"We have a good blend of experience and youth in our team. Lizzy Igasan is the best player in New Zealand at the moment, and in players like Paula Enoka, Connie Igasan and Kiri Playle we have much-needed experience."

Harbour have lost Susie Nightingale and Leisen Jobe, but have a well-balanced team as they head into opening weekend with home games against the young, but promising, Southern side and the key clash with Canterbury.

The double-headers at Lloyd Elsmore Park and North Harbour's Crown Relocations Stadium promise to have huge bearing on the eventual top four.

Auckland play Wellington tomorrow. On Sunday Central meet Auckland and Harbour have their clash with Canterbury.

Auckland finished outside the top four last year - edged on goal difference by eventual champions Central.

With five internationals and others in the national development squad, Canterbury have the talent to win even without stalwart Di Weavers, who is listed in the Midlands side this time but remains under an injury cloud.

With national coach Ian Rutledge based in Christchurch, it is little surprise many players have gone south, further strengthening a Canterbury side who won in 2002 and had their worst result, third, last year. They were runners-up in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

With their world top six ranking, New Zealand women's hockey is on a high. Facing another busy 12 months, including Oceania World Cup play-offs and the Commonwealth Games, the league will be another piece in Rutledge's selection jigsaw.