Hockey: Toughest test comes first

New Zealand face England in a tough first-up clash at the women's Champions Challenge tournament in Virginia Beach tomorrow morning.

Fresh from winning a Cup tournament in Korea, the English go into this tournament, for teams ranked between 7th-12th in the world, as the form team.

Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge acknowledges England will be the team to beat but sees their clash as a useful guide when looking ahead to next year's Commonwealth Games.

"They have the most experienced side here," said Rutledge after a practice match against Japan yesterday. "This tournament gives us the opportunity to play them and South Africa, who will be among the medal contenders at the Commonwealth Games."

In two warm-up matches, the Black Sticks have beaten South Africa 2-1 and drawn 1-1 with Japan.

"The girls were a bit rusty in the first half against South Africa but got better as the match progressed. "They played a lot better in the first half against Japan today. The momentum is returning."

The draw against Japan was pleasing for Canterbury striker Honor Dillon who scored the goal.

As All Black Daniel Carter's girlfriend, Dillon has come in for some publicity in recent times but away from home she has the chance to concentrate on her hockey.

"The players understand the situation," said Rutledge. "She feels protected inside the environment here. Within the team she is just Honor Dillon."

Rutledge said the Black Sticks had a good chance of winning the tournament which would book them a place in next July's Champions Trophy in Holland.

But that was not the priority.

"Like the Indira Ghandi tournament in India in October, we are using these opportunities to build towards our World Cup play-offs against Australia and beyond that, the Commonwealth Games," said Rutledge.

He expected a core group from this team to go to India but key players missing the Virginia Beach tournament through injury - Di Weavers, Moira Senior and Tara Drysdale who have more than 330 caps between them - would come into the reckoning as would others like Kate Mahon, Rachel Sutherland and Auckland goalkeeper Caroline Stuart.

The loss of Weavers in particular would be felt as he regarded her and Lizzy Igasan as his first choice defensive combination.

"Sure, it is hard to replace her but at the same time it opens the opportunity for other players. If we keep playing Di and Lizzy together we don't get the chance to play other players.

Sheree Phillips, who played in all five tests against the United States this year, will probably join Igasan as first choice fullbacks in this tournament although Waikato's Clarissa Eshuis, called in to replace Weavers, and perhaps Emily Naylor, who also played at fullback against the Americans, might also have game time.

Weavers is continuing to make progress with a hip injury. Rutledge hopes she will be available for selection for India and will be able to play a couple of NHL games before that.

Rutledge has 18 players at the tournament but can name only 16 for each match.

It seems certain he will go with only goalkeeper in each match - thereby having the option of five outfield players on the bench.

"It is pretty hot - around 35 degrees - and humid here," said Rutledge. "It makes sense to have as many outfield players as possible for the rotation."

He said there was little between goalkeepers Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington) and Manawatu's Anita Wawatai and would probably give them equal time in the round-robin matches before making his final selection for the play-off game on Sunday week.

Black Sticks look strong

Never far from the international stage, the Black Sticks are back in action for the second time this year as one of six teams in the women's Champions Challenge tournament in America.

At stake at the tournament at Virginia Beach in southeast Virginia is a place in next year's Champions Trophy.

After their return from this tournament, which starts with a match against England tomorrow, New Zealand will play in the six-nation Indira Ghandi tournament from October 1-9, mixing that with matches before and after in the Lion Foundation NHL.

New Zealand have good recent records against all their opponents at the Challenge tournament:

* Two wins and a draw in the last three matches against England.

* Two wins over Japan.

* Victory over South Africa at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

* Four wins out of five in the home test series against the US in May.

* Spain has beaten the Black Sticks on the last three occasions, however, all by the odd goal.

In their only previous Champions Challenge appearance, in Italy in 2003, NZ finished fourth but lost only one game by more than a goal (2-0 to winners Germany).

THE SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers

Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington) 24 years, 19 caps
Anita Wawatai (Manawatu) 24, 10

Defenders

Emily Naylor (Canterbury) 19, 34
Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour) 22, 70
Jo Galletly (Canterbury) 25, 20
Clarissa Eshuis (Waikato) 18, 5
Frances Kreft (Canterbury) 19, 8
Sheree Phillips (Manawatu) 25, 13

Midfielders

Meredith Orr (Canterbury) 27, 68
Stacey Carr (Canterbury) 21, 40
Suzie Muirhead (Wellington) 30, 211
Jane Maley (Canterbury) 24, 4
Rachel Robertson (Canterbury) 28, 40

Strikers

Kayla Sharland (Manawatu) 19, 51
Jaimee Provan (North Harbour) 27, 93
Honor Dillon (Canterbury) 22, 10
Lizzie Ryan (Canterbury) 19, 5
Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington) 29, 95

Coach: Ian Rutledge
Assistant coach: Chris Leslie