Hockey: Women all fired up for Olympics

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

They took a little while to get used to playing against people in skirts again, but still the New Zealand women's hockey team let Argentina know they are all fired up for the Sydney Olympics.

New Zealand were not crowing loud about their 2-1 win over the world's fourth-ranked team last night in Whangarei, their first victory over Argentina in two years.

They have another two tests against them in the next three days before they even get to the Olympics.

But it was the perfect way to start the last leg to Sydney, even if they were a bit confused to begin with.

The New Zealanders have spent the past 10 weeks playing in the company of men in shorts, with all their hockey in the Wellington men's club league.

Coach Jan Borren said last night it was obvious that playing against women again would take some practice.

"There were times when they had opportunities to take the ball forward and beat the player," he said.

"But they were looking for the pass instead.

"They forgot that they weren't up against faster men, and they were capable of getting through."

Both teams were sharp but still holding back last night.

Neither side wanted to show off all their tricks before the real show in Sydney.

New Zealand scored both their goals from penalty corners, but they did not give away the special variation moves they have developed from their months in Wellington.

Mandy Smith opened the scoring, deflecting a hit by Tina Bell-Kake, but Argentina's most-capped player, Paula Karina Masotta, answered back right on halftime.

Skippy McGregor's direct corner shot early in the second half sealed the match, but the Argentine attack was relentless, one of their shots bouncing off a goalpost.

"Argentina showed what a dangerous team they are, and we were a touch lucky to hold them out in the end," Borren said.

Lively forwards Moira Senior and Anna Lawrence were the standout players for the home side, who meet Argentina again at Albany tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand men, feeling the effects of three tests in as many days, went down 0-2 to the Argentine men in the curtainraiser.

Before the game began, the Kiwis were down one player, with veteran forward Greg Russ deciding to retire from test hockey after 120 internationals.

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