Hockey: North Harbour win would be huge upset

By TERRY MADDAFORD


It shapes as a battle of David and Goliath - or maybe that should be Debra and Gloria - proportions, but North Harbour women's hockey coach Ian Bartholomew refuses to accept defeat against Auckland as inevitable.

"We know we are up against it," he said. "But we can't go in with that attitude."

The odds are stacked heavily against the home side in tomorrow's Lion Foundation League clash at Albany's Rosedale Park.

In last week's opening round, Auckland travelled to Dunedin and thumped Otago 11-0 while North Harbour stayed home and went down 2-6 to Canterbury.

Auckland have 10 internationals and no guest players in their squad. North Harbour have no New Zealand representatives and four guests.

"But we can't think too much about that. We played above our expectations last week and can take some positives from that game," Bartholomew said. "We just needed to finish better to have had a chance.

"That is something we have been working on this week and while we expect a pretty heavy defensive workload against Auckland, we will be looking to get our forwards as high as possible."

Last week's goalkeeping star, Bianca Russell, can expect another busy time as can fullbacks Paula Enoka and Nicky Pearce, with some support from Lizzy Igasan, who will be expected to drop back from her inside right role.

With top goal-scorers Mandy Smith and Lisa Walton - four goals each against Otago - to lead the charge, Auckland should be way too strong for a North Harbour side who could not have had a more difficult start with games against the two sides expected to contest the May 14 final.

In other women's games this weekend, Canterbury are at home to Manawatu and Wellington host Otago.

After being sidelined with the waterlogged pitch in Hamilton on the opening weekend, men's favourites Auckland face a trip north to play first-round upset winners Northland.

The northerners' 2-1 home win over defending champions Wellington on opening day has earned them plenty of respect and the Keith Rowley-coached Aucklanders will tread warily in Whangarei.

North Harbour are away to Wellington in a vital game for both teams. Victory for North Harbour would put them on course for a semifinal berth while a loss for Wellington could almost end their chances.

In the other game, Canterbury are at home to Midland Express.