Hockey: Squad barely have time for breather

The New Zealand women's squad have not much time to recover from their disappointing Commonwealth Games before leaving for the Champions Trophy in Macau.

The tournament, from August 24 to September 1, features the six top women's hockey countries in the world.

They are Argentina, Australia, the Netherlands, China, England and New Zealand.

The squad, announced by the New Zealand Hockey Federation yesterday, excludes two players from the Commonwealth Games outfit - Rachel Robertson and the injured Moira Senior.

Four players who did not travel to the Commonwealth Games, but were picked in May for the Champions Trophy, help to make up the 18-strong squad.

They are Hawkes Bay forward Piki Hamahona, midfielders Lisa Bishop (Wellington) and Kate Saunders (Canterbury), and defender Karen Syddall (Auckland).

The Black Sticks, coached by Jan Borren, leave New Zealand on August 19 and will have one practice game in Hong Kong on August 21. New Zealand finished fifth at last year's tournament in Amsterdam.

The squad: Paula Enoka (North Harbour), Sandy Bennett (Auckland), Rachel Sutherland (Wellington), Piki Hamahona (Hawkes Bay), Jaimee Provan (Auckland), Michelle Turner (Canterbury), Suzie Pearce (Wellington), Anne Marie Irving (Canterbury), Helen Clarke (Auckland), Caryn Paewai (Wellington), Diana Weavers (Canterbury), Amanda Christie (Canterbury), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington), Tara Drysdale (Manawatu), Lisa Bishop (Wellington), Colleen Gubb-Suddaby (Invercargill), Karen Syddall (Auckland) and Kate Saunders ( Canterbury).

- NZPA