Hockey: NZ wants direct route to Athens

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Kevin Towns is hoping the national men's team can reverse a disturbing trend in New Zealand's bid for places at next year's Athens Olympic Games.

In recent times the national women's team and the men's and women's basketball teams have been tripped up in their bid for early Olympic qualification, all well-beaten by Australia.

All three teams have a second chance but Towns would rather get through by the direct route rather than having to play a cut-throat tournament in Madrid in March where seven of 12 teams will win Olympic spots.

"With Germany beating Spain on strokes at the European championships, we now know Spain, England and Holland will all be at the qualifying tournament. It would be much better if we can win through without the worry of having to go to Spain and meet teams of that quality."

Towns and his team have that chance in this week's Oceania Cup.

It was to have been a three-team tournament but Fiji's withdrawal has left New Zealand and Australia to do battle in a straight play-off in the three-test series starting in Christchurch on Wednesday night and ending with two matches in Wellington next weekend.

The Australians have a decided edge having won 52 of the 84 tests between the two countries, including a 5-2 victory in their latest meeting at last year's Manchester Commonwealth Games.

"It would be a huge advantage to qualify this far out [from Athens]," said Towns. "It would allow us to focus solely on the Olympics without the worry of having to go to the qualifying tournament."

Despite having the odds stacked against them, Towns is quietly confident his team, who have six players who have played more than 100 internationals, can get the job done.

"We will have to be at our very best. We have been waiting on this. We have to look to shut them out early in the game but I'm sure they will be wanting to do the same.

"We have nothing but respect for them. Deep down we know if we play to our potential it is going to be even."

Towns, who has watched his team train in cold, difficult conditions in Wellington and Christchurch in an intense build-up, said he felt they were now "coming right" after some ragged work early on.

Determined to have time on the two match turfs he described as being "vastly different", he has split his training between Wellington and Christchurch.

"Obviously, we want to get our penalty corners right," said Towns. "And that means spending time on the match surface."

The drag flicking of New Zealand's Hayden Shaw and Australians Andrew Smith and Troy Elder at penalty corners will be key components in this series.

Australia have lost key striker Jamie Dwyer to injury which will divert attention to 23-year-old Grant Schubert who scored nine goals in six matches on his debut international tour last month as the Kookaburras won through to the final of the Champions Trophy in Holland.

In other changes from that team, Australian coach Barry Dancer has left out Tristram Woodhouse and Zain Wright.

Wright's omission surprised Towns.

"They will miss Dwyer," he said. "He scored three goals in his first game against us. It is now up to us to put pressure on the Australians and make them miss him."

After some niggling injuries among his 18-strong squad last week, Towns said all players are now fit and available for selection.

Oceania Cup schedule

First test: NZ v Australia, Porritt Park, Christchurch, Wednesday 7pm.

Second test: NZ v Australia, National Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 3.15pm.

Third test: NZ v Australia, National Stadium, Wellington, Sunday 3.15pm.

New Zealand team Goalkeepers: Paul Woolford (Auckland) 26 years, 48 caps. Kyle Pontifex (Wellington) 23, 6

Defenders: Dion Gosling (Auckland) 31, 132. Dean Couzins (Auckland) 22, 43. Hayden Shaw (Canterbury) 23, 37.

Midfield: Simon Towns (Auckland), captain, 30, 177. Mitesh Patel (Wellington) 27, 82. Darren Smith (North Harbour) 29, 148. Wayne McIndoe (Auckland) 31, 73. Blair Hopping (North Harbour) 23, 59. Casey Henwood (North Harbour) 22, 10. Ryan Archibald (Auckland) 23, 109. Bryce Collins (Canterbury) 25, 4.

Forwards: David Kosoof (North Harbour) 25, 48. Umesh Parag (Wellington) 32. 186. Bevan Hari (Auckland) 28, 120. Phillip Burrows (Wellington), 23, 81. Gareth Brooks (Canterbury) 24, 12.