Hockey: Home for now, but sights set on Sydney

By REBECCA WALSH

They were greeted with cheers and flowers in Auckland yesterday, but for the victorious New Zealand women's hockey team there will be no time to rest on their laurels - an Olympic medal beckons.

After wins against Britain and Germany at the Olympic qualifying tournament at Milton Keynes in England, the team now rank among the world's top six and are firm contenders for medals in Sydney.

Feeling shattered after what she called a week of "highs and lows" - the low being an early loss to Japan - Captain Anna Lawrence said it was great to arrive home to one of the team's best-ever receptions. "We have had fantastic support from home. Even when things were low at the beginning of the week, there was real belief there."

The team were pleased with their performance, but the next six months would involve a lot of preparation, starting this weekend with the NZ Hockey League and then the Champions Trophy in Holland in six weeks time.

"In reality this tournament [at Milton Keynes] was without four of the best teams," Lawrence said. "We need to keep that in perspective. The Champions Trophy will be a good chance to see where we are in the world."

Australia, Holland, Korea and Argentina had qualified for the Olympics and did not compete.

Asked if the team felt under pressure to perform at the Olympics, Lawrence said that once a team won, the public's expectations were built up. "We want to win a medal as well."

Mandy Smith, top goal scorer at the tournament overall with five goals, said there had been a lot of excitement in the last two days. "Everyone is on a high. It is great to come home to a warm reception."