Hockey: SOS earns hockey extra tests

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The NZ Hockey Federation has answered an SOS from Malaysia and agreed to a four-test series here next month.

The matches, to be played at North Harbour (April 25 and 29), Hamilton (April 26) and Auckland (April 28), will give the national men's team an ideal lead-in to their three tests against Australia in Melbourne from May 10 to13.

"We were happy to accommodate their request," said federation chief executive Ramesh Patel.

"It fits in nicely with what we had planned.

"There will be a training camp over Easter at North Harbour for about 50 [players and coaches], after which the 16 players for the Malaysian and Australian series will be named."

The Malaysians, hosts of next year's World Cup, are desperate for top-level competition.

The camp players, selected regionally by national coach Kevin Towns, will include most of those likely to be selected as under-21 squad members to prepare for the Junior World Cup.

The junior squad will be named after the May 8-12 national colts tournament in Wellington, although some players, such as Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrowes, will be missing because they will be in Melbourne with the senior side.

Patel and federation lawyer David Howman will be in Lausanne on May 1 for the Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing on New Zealand's appeal against the decision excluding them from July's World Cup qualifying tournament in Scotland.