Hockey: Winning warmup in heat

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Three matches into the women's hockey tournament at the Athens Olympics, New Zealand had done nothing. No points, no goals, no hope.

Not for long.

A determined fightback by the Black Sticks eventually got them up to sixth place and with it a ticket to the 12th Champions Trophy tournament.

It was a remarkable turnaround, but one which coach Ian Rutledge always hoped for.

Now he is confident the young team he has with him in Argentina can continue where the Olympians left off.

There is a feeling of real confidence within the team, said Rutledge from Rosario this week.

"As a group they have grown since the Olympics.

"From my point of view they are very buoyant and looking forward to this tournament.

"From the time we stepped out for the warm-up match against Argentina [NZ won 4-2] on Tuesday we played with no fear.

"We were short-handed with three players being rested because of minor injury concerns.

"We also had three players who had not played for the Black Sticks before, yet we were able to twice come back from a goal down to win well."

While that match must be taken in context, it was an encouraging first-up effort in temperatures which went beyond the mid-30s.

The home side had 15 of their 16 Olympians in their 18-strong trophy squad. New Zealand had 11.

Captain Suzie Muirhead and veteran goalkeeper Helen Clarke (now retired) are among those not at the tournament.

The first tournament game, between former winners China and the Netherlands, will be played on Sunday morning (NZ time).

New Zealand open their campaign in the third of the opening day's matches, against Argentina.

Rutledge, speaking after his players had returned from another testing workout at the Rosario Jockey Club, said there was huge interest in the tournament.

"It is a very hockey-focused community. Organisers say most days are already sold out which will mean crowds of between 5000-6000."

Despite the warm-up win, Rutledge still rates the hosts as the team to beat.


Rutledge has long maintained that his long-term goal is the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He is also determined to have a team ready to perform at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

In introducing three young strikers - Karlie Maloney (North Harbour), Jessica Brewster (Auckland) and Honor Dillon (Canterbury) - Rutledge has shown his hand.

The trio range in age from 18-22 years, and have the chance to play alongside long-serving international forwards Moira Senior (107 caps) and Niniwa Roberts-Lang (84).

There has been a high player turnover in recent years with Rutledge taking a hard-nosed approach in building a new-look balanced squad.

At times he has had half a dozen 100-plus test veterans in his squad. Now he has just Senior and captain Di Weavers (150) over that mark with Manawatu midfielder Rachel Sutherland (94) poised to join that elite group if she plays all six games in Rosario.

Such has been the intensity of the international programme that Lizzy Igasan, still only 22 and the 2004 player of the year, has already played 60 times for her country.

In a surprise move, Rutledge has named Igasan, Sutherland and Roberts-Lang as joint vice-captains, which he says is aimed at building the team's leadership base.

A top-five finish in this tournament will book the Black Sticks a place in next year's Champions Trophy - something Rutledge would be able to use as further preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

Given their more recent results, they might just make it.