Four Tauranga players named in new Black Sticks squad

Midlands captain Sam Charlton is one of four Tauranga players named in Black Sticks for the Oceania Cup. PHOTO: photosport

Head coach Mark Hager has named an in-form Vantage Black Sticks Women's side to contest next month's Oceania Cup in Sydney.

The team of 18 includes 11 players who competed in Sunday's Ford National Hockey League final between Midlands and Northland, including four players from Tauranga in Sam Charlton, Amy Robinson, Frances Davies and Rose Keddell.

Gemma McCaw will not be returning for the Black Sticks despite a strong outing for Midlands at the national hockey league tournament. She was unavailable for selection.

Versatile defender Stacey Michelsen is the most capped player with 235 tests to her name and is joined by eight others who have played more than100 games.

There are likely to be two significant milestones chalked up during the event with Charlton just one match away from her 200th test while goalkeeper Sally Rutherford is on 147 caps.

North Harbour defender Stephanie Dickins and Midlands defender/midfielder Tarryn Davey have both been rewarded for an impressive performance throughout the week at the Ford NHL.

"We have a few changes from our team which played at the World League Semi Final in Belgium and I think it shows the quality of depth we have with competition for spots," Hager said.

"Steph Dickins and Tarryn Davey, in particular, were great contributors for their teams at the Ford NHL and they will bring athleticism for us along with fitness, speed and versatility.

"While we have already qualified for the World Cup we will be going to the Oceania Cup with plenty of motivation and team goals in the lead-up to the Hockey World League Final in Auckland this November."

The Oceania Cup runs from October 11 to 15 at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre where New Zealand will be joined by hosts Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Held every two years, the Oceania Cup is the continental championship for the region with the winner of each gender automatically qualifying for the 2018 Hockey World Cup.

Both the Vantage Black Sticks Women and Men have already qualified for the World Cup, with the women's event in London (July 2018) and the men's in India (November 2018).

Each nation will play each other in the pool rounds before the top two ranked nations face off in the gold medal match for the Oceania Cup title.

Black Sticks to play at Oceania Cup, October 11 to 15 in Sydney, Australia:
Sam Charlton, Frances Davies, Tarryn Davey, Natasha Fitsimmons, Shiloh Gloyn, Ella Gunson, Sam Harrison, Rose Keddell, Rachel McCann, Olivia Merry, Stacey Michelsen, Brooke Neal, Grace O'Hanlon, Amy Robinson, Sally Rutherford, Kelsey Smith, Liz Thompson.