Hockey: Pontifex gets his chance to shine

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Wellington goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex gets a rare chance to play for New Zealand tonight.

Understudy in recent times to Paul Woolford and Michael Bevin, 23-year-old Pontifex will play the second of five tests against Canada in Napier. But he will be under some pressure, as Woolford turned in a man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's 4-1 win in the series opener.

"It is a good chance to play Kyle," said New Zealand coach Kevin Towns yesterday. "He hasn't had too many opportunities since his debut against Malaysia back in 2000."

It will be Pontifex's second test. Woolford has played 41.

Pontifex can expect a busy 70 minutes at the Legends Hockey Stadium. Despite losing the first test, Canada forced five penalty corners to New Zealand's four and scored from one of their nine circle penetrations.

Asked why he was not happy with his team's winning effort in Palmerston North, Towns said: "We are meant to be in the top nine teams in the world. At times we let them off the hook and did not play like that. We will change our tactics this time and put more pressure on."

The Canadians are a difficult team to play. In the first test they often had all 11 players behind the ball and seemed content to play in their own half of the field.

"That is how they play. They will get the odd result from playing that way," said Towns. "We just don't want those results to come against us. It can be very frustrating for sure, but we have to accept that's the way they prefer to play."

Towns said he hoped to make one or two other changes to the squad for tonight, with midfielder James Nation and inside forward Lloyd Stephenson likely to get a chance.

Canterbury defender Bryce Collins, the only player yet to make his debut, may have to wait until tomorrow night's third test as he has had a stomach upset. Tonight's test begins at 7.