Hockey: Woolford gets nod for Malaysia tournament

By Terry Maddaford

Paul Woolford's impressive international hockey debut against Great Britain last Sunday has won him the second goalkeeping slot in the New Zealand team for this month's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Malaysia.

Woolford has pushed Otago's Michael Bevin out of the national side after they shared the keeping duties in the three-test series with the British. Bevin was in goal for the first two matches - won 6-2 and 6-3 by the visitors - while 22-year-old Woolford played in the 4-4 third-test draw.

With 103-cap veteran Scott Anderson cleared to return to the side as captain and goalkeeper, either Bevin or Aucklander Woolford had to go. Anderson has been troubled by an Achilles tendon injury which kept him out of the series.

With veteran John Radovonich having retired, the crucial centre-forward role now seems likely to be contested by 19-year-old Phillip Burrows, who was impressive in his debut outings against Great Britain, Aucklander Bevan Hari and 28-year-old Canterbury forward Craig Reynolds.

Reynolds has forced his way in with some good performances for the New Zealand Academy side. His only previous international was almost four years ago in a loss to Australia.

In the only other change from the British series, 70-cap veteran Andrew Buckley has lost his place to Auckland defender Dion Gosling (76 caps), who returns after being left on the sideline for the most recent internationals.

After a disappointing sixth, and last, placing at the 1999 tournament, New Zealand coach Robin Wilson is looking for something better.

Of the teams who will play in Kuala Lumpur, Pakistan, South Korea and the hosts will also be striving for places in Sydney 2000 at next month's qualifying tournament in Osaka, Japan.

The other teams playing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup - Canada, India and Germany - have already qualified for the Olympics.

New Zealand (with international caps in brackets): Scott Anderson (103), Paul Woolford (1), Brett Leaver (123), Craig Russ (72), Andrew Timlin (29), Andrew Hastie (55), Wayne McIndoe (20), Simon Towns (107), Dion Gosling (76), Ryan Archibald (35), Hymie Gill (33), Greg Russ (105), Mitesh Patel (7), Umesh Parag (108), Phillip Burrows (3), Bevan Hari (45), Craig Reynolds (1).