Black Sticks goalkeeper Devon Manchester looked sharp as the national men's team was put through its paces at the Tauranga Hockey Centre yesterday afternoon. Photo/John Borren
Black Sticks goalkeeper Devon Manchester looked sharp as the national men's team was put through its paces at the Tauranga Hockey Centre yesterday afternoon. Photo/John Borren
Both teams are in town as the final preparations are being made to the Tauranga Hockey Centre ahead of tomorrow's first test between the Black Sticks and Japan.
The centre has had a recent rotten run of luck with the weather for its largest events - including the national women'steam's Four Nations tournament last year - so Tauranga Hockey Association general manager Clyde du Toit is crossing his fingers the cyclone predicted to form in the Pacific will not rear its head before Saturday's third test.
"Hopefully it goes away very quickly," du Toit said as he watched the Black Sticks train yesterday. "It's really exciting and hard to believe how quickly these tests have come up. It's always great to have a national team down. We've turned the weather on for them today and hopefully it stays good all week."
The three-test series is just reward for the power of work put in by the association in recent years.
"The Tauranga Hockey Centre is really looking good and we are looking forward to putting on the first spectacular test on Wednesday night. This is the first time the men's team has been here and as you can see from the practising they are really getting used to the turf.
"The other really exciting thing for Wednesday night is we will be christening our new lights - the first time we use them will be for the test so we are looking forward to it."
It is hoped further development, including new dugouts and seating on the beach turf, will be completed before a busy September featuring the AIMS Games and girls secondary school and representative tournaments.
Wednesday and Saturdays' internationals will be proceeded by interactive training sessions for kids and adults alike, with a curtainraiser between invitational teams from Bethlehem and Tauranga Boys' Colleges set for Thursday.
