Tauranga quartet named in Black Sticks squad

IN CONTROL: Tauranga's Frances Davies in action for the Black Sticks against Malaysia in December. PHOTO: photosport

Four Tauranga hockey players have been named in the 2017 Vantage Black Sticks women's national squad.

Experienced defenders Rose Keddell (144 caps) and Sam Charlton (158 caps) are joined by defender Frances Davies and striker Amy Robinson who have nine caps each.

The four Midlands reps were part of the difficult series against Argentina in Buenos Aries last month, which head coach Mark Hager said was all part of the learning curve as he built a new team towards the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

He had faith the two Tauranga 20-year-olds could push on to become integral members of the squad.

"[Frances and Amy] both showed good signs against Malaysia last year, and Argentina was a good opportunity against top opposition. It was a good baptism of fire against number three in the world," Hager said.

"They showed some good signs and promise there as well, but it also highlighted to both of them that there is a lot of work to do.

"With players now taking time away from the game or retiring it has provided an opportunity for these girls to obviously stake a claim and show they are capable of playing at this level."

Hager would need to rely on the experience of 10 of the 25 named in this year's squad who have played 100 tests or more, including Keddell and Charlton.

"We lost seven from Rio, so that is a lot of experience that has gone out of the group but to still have people like Sam Charlton and Rosey is great," Hager said.

"They will obviously assist the younger ones coming through and give them a lot of advice and help with the trials and tribulations of being an international hockey player, particularly around the training track and what's needed."

The Black Sticks women (ranked fifth in the world) are next in action in two tests against the USA (ranked sixth) on March 25-26 in Rangiora before heading to the Vantage Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey from March 31 to April 9.

The tests against the USA will be the first time a New Zealand senior international team of any sport had played in North Canterbury.

They will be a fitting celebration of the venue's new turf, the same kind of surface played on at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and which opened in late February.