Hockey: Japan roasting recipe for Olympics bid

By DAVID LEGGAT

If Kevin Towns had planned his ideal rehearsal for the Olympic men's qualifying tournament next week he could not have come up with much better than yesterday's crushing 5-1 win over Japan in Madrid.

That completed a three-game warmup programme - a 2-1 loss to Spain in a non-international match preceded a win over the same opponents in a full international a couple of days later - and left coach Towns satisfied that his team are in good shape for the 12-team tournament starting on Tuesday night.

Seven of the 12 will qualify for the Athens Games. New Zealand's world ranking is 11, and three teams in their pool of six are higher ranked - Pakistan, India and Malaysia, who are fifth, sixth and 10th respectively.

Still, Towns likes what he has seen from his team, and that was capped off by yesterday's performance.

"We're very much on track," he said. "You could debate whether we need another game, but I don't think so."

New Zealand dominated world No 12 Japan from the outset and were 2-0 up inside the first 15 minutes, courtesy of two Hayden Shaw goals from penalty corners.

Phil Burrows increased the lead with a field goal early in the second half before Japan pegged one goal back from a corner, the ball deflecting off keeper Kyle Pontifex's glove into the net.

Further goals from Gareth Brooks and Wayne McIndoe gave the scoreboard a rosy look for New Zealand and Towns insisted they were well worth the winning margin.

He has two injury worries: North Harbour midfielder Darren Smith and the coach's son, team captain Simon Towns.

Smith has a rib cartilage problem and Towns has damaged his hip flexor. Neither played yesterday but Towns is optimistic both will be ready to face Malaysia on Tuesday.

"It does leave us a bit short in the midfield, but Mitesh Patel, who has been injured, played half a game yesterday and came through very well.

"Darren will be right to take a full part in practice tomorrow and, going on Simon's previous problems with the hip, he should be fine, so I'm not too concerned."

The off-field hiccups over unsuitable practice facilities and other organisational issues which had left the usually amiable Towns grumpy earlier in the week have largely been resolved.

However the, Japanese game did offer one unusual distraction.

Workmen wandered on to the field early in the game, dragging ropes and tarpaulins.

"We just kicked them off and carried on," Towns quipped matter-of-factly.

The next two days will be given over to studying their opponents, most of whom have games over the weekend, and perusing the videotape collection the management have built up.