Hockey: Syddall has big chance in Macau

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Northland hockey Machine has churned out yet another international with Karen Syddall's inclusion in the side to play this month's Champions Trophy in Macau.

While coach Jan Borren's list of the 18 players who will play in the tournament restricted to the world's top six nations shows 24-year-old Syddall as an Aucklander, she quickly points out her northern grounding.

She is in good company. Among present or recent internationals, Syddall points to Leisen Jobe, Sandy Bennett, Toni Mason, Lizzy Igasan and Jenny Shepherd as players who first hit a ball in Northland before some packed up their sticks and moved on.

Syddall and Canterbury midfielder Kate Saunders are the only debutantes in the team for China. They are joined by Lisa Bishop and Piki Hamahona as the only players who did not play in the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Missing from the Games team for the Champions Trophy are Rachel Robertson and injured Moira Senior.

For Syddall, who played for Whangarei Girls High School and later Macleans College before joining the Somerville club, it is her first chance to play in a Borren-coached team.

"I'm looking forward to playing under him," said Syddall. "I see him as a thinker, someone I have a lot of respect for.

"I was just about in tears when watching what happened at the Commonwealth Games [the semifinal loss to India]. I know what [goalkeeper] Helen Clarke would have been thinking.

"I know she would have taken that loss to heart."

The Champions Trophy allows Syddall, who plays in defence, and Clarke to join forces again as both play for Auckland and Somerville.

The tournament also gives Syddall the chance to press her claims for a place in the team for the World Cup in Perth in November.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to play internationally and see how I go."

Syddall works for the Tile Depot, a company owned by her parents.

"I enjoy the work. I studied sports science at university but quickly realised a career in sport wasn't for me.

"Hockey is a major part in my life. This season, like most in recent years, has gone on for a long time."

After the Champions Trophy, in which New Zealand will play (in order) Argentina, England, Australia, the Netherlands and China between August 24 and 30 before the September 1 play-offs, the players will return in time for the September 7 to October 6 Lion Foundation-sponsored national league.

Syddall, who admits she compensates for any perceived lack of pace with sound positional play and her ability to read the game, said she did not know whether she was excited or nervous before the biggest challenge of her career.

"I'm just grateful Helen [Clarke] will be there.

"We have played so much together it is great we can now continue that at this level."