Hockey: Pakistan jaunt adds NHL spice

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Confirmation New Zealand will play December's Champions Trophy will add extra interest to this weekend's national league double-header.

National coach Kevin Towns said assurances on security arrangements for the six-team tournament in Lahore had persuaded New Zealand Hockey to accept the invitation.

Towns is confident he will have almost all his Olympic squad available with Hayden Shaw the only definite non-starter.

"I have yet to hear from Umesh Parag who is still in Europe and I need to have another chat with Dion Gosling," Towns said yesterday. "There is also a question mark over Ryan Archibald but I expect him to be ready to play in the finals weekend of the league.

Towns and his fellow selectors will continue to monitor all players in the NHL as they prepare to name the 18 he will take to Pakistan.

The tempo steps up this weekend with key games tomorrow.

Auckland host North Harbour and Wellington are at home to Canterbury in games which will have a bearing on final round-robin positions.

Auckland have begun strongly and should continue that good form in today's clash with Midlands, also at Lloyd Elsmore Park.

Coach Ian Woodley is still without Gosling and Bevan Hari but hopes to have Wayne Gosling back at least for tomorrow's game.

"I've been disappointed with our ball retention despite the results we have had," Woodley said. "We have squandered too many chances. On the other hand, goalkeeper Paul Woolford has been outstanding and Brett Leaver has shown all his experience at fullback.

"Up front Hamish Baron and Mark Laurence have done well but we now need to pick it up a notch."

North Harbour face a testing weekend.

They are away this afternoon to Northland, a team they have rarely completely mastered, before returning for tomorrow's key clash with Auckland.

Following their narrow loss to Wellington, Harbour must return to winning form in the chase for a top-four finish. They will have coach Darren Smith back, at least for today's game with but Shaun Barnett is out with injury.

Wellington, who needed goals from a penalty corner and from a stroke to edge North Harbour, will need a top effort against Canterbury.

The women's games also promise a step-up, with chief interest today in the Northland-North Harbour clash in Whangarei and the game between Central and Canterbury in Christchurch.