Hockey: Naylor in doubt for champions trophy start

1.15pm

The Black Sticks are likely to start their Champions Trophy hockey campaign in Rosario, Argentina, without Manawatu midfielder Emily Naylor.

Naylor, 18, but with 24 caps, strained a calf muscle two days ago.

She was the worst off of three injured players, coach Ian Rutledge said.

"She's the doubtful one at this stage but we're hoping she'll come right before we play," Rutledge told NZPA today.

New Zealand start the 12th trophy tournament against hosts Argentina, who are ranked No 1 in the world and Olympic Games bronze medallists, on Sunday morning (NZT), after the China-Netherlands and Australia-Germany games.

Wellington's Beth Jurgeleit (thigh), one of the two goalkeepers in the squad, and Canterbury midfielder Stacey Carr (hamstring) are the other players with injuries, which Rutledge described as niggles.

Though the Black Sticks emerged with two solid performances their practice matches against Argentina and Olympic gold medallists Germany over the last two days had no bearing on how they would go in the tournament, Rutledge said.

"The results were not important and we're taking them right out of our minds," he said of the 4-2 win over Argentina and scoreless draw against Germany.

New Zealand managed to force four penalty corners in the match but failed to convert any.

Rutledge said that wasn't a worrying aspect as Niniwa Roberts-Lang and Kayla Sharland scored from similar opportunities against Argentina.

New Zealand are lowest-ranked of the six teams in the tournament and are without such experienced players as Olympic captain Suzie Muirhead and goalkeeper Helen Clarke, who has retired.

Three newcomers, North Harbour's Karlie Maloney, 18, Auckland's Jessica Brewster, 20 and Canterbury's Honor Dillon, 22, had settled well, Rutledge said.

Dillon, an outstanding player in the recently completed national league, scored in her first outing against Argentina.

"When you have these young players playing alongside the likes of Moira (Senior) and Niniwa it's quite exciting," Rutledge said.

"It's a new era really for the team with all these younger players."

Rutledge aimed to finish fifth -- at least -- to remain in the Champions Trophy competition, which would help the side build up for the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Beijing Olympics two years later.

Eleven of the 18 players named for Argentina went to the Athens Olympics.

Black Sticks

Goalkeepers: Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington), Anita Wawatai (Manawatu).

Fullbacks: Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour), Sheree Phillips (Manawatu), Diana Weavers (Canterbury).

Halfbacks: Jo Galletly (Canterbury), Emily Naylor (Manawatu), Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu), Rachel Robertson (Canterbury).

Inside forwards: Stacey Carr (Canterbury), Tara Drysdale (Manawatu), Meredith Orr (Auckland), Karlie Maloney (North Harbour).

Strikers: Jessica Brewster (Auckland), Honor Dillon (Canterbury), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington), Kayla Sharland (Manawatu), Moira Senior (Manawatu).

Draw

Sunday (NZT), Nov 7

China v Netherlands, Australia v Germany, 10.10am live on Sky Argentina v NZ

Monday: Netherlands v Australia, 10.10am live on Sky NZ v China, Germany v Argentina.

Wednesday: China v Germany, 10.10am live on Sky NZ v Netherlands, Australia v Argentina.

Friday: 7.55am live on Sky Germany v NZ, China v Australia, Argentina v Netherlands

Sunday: 5.45am but coverage on Sky delayed until 2.30pm NZ v Australia, Netherlands v Germany, Argentina v Germany.

Monday playoffs.

- NZPA