Black Sticks keeper revels in time on turf

Hamish McGregor should be developing an appreciation for how the last two years of Stephen Graham's hockey career have panned out after warming the bench in the Black Sticks' series against Belgium and Korea.
The New Zealand men's goalkeepers - both Tauranga products - were in the squad for the international series although, other than exercising the side's shooters, McGregor saw no on-field action at all.
In the final test against Korea at the Tauranga Hockey Centre yesterday, 22-year-old McGregor went through his pre-test routine before watching the game from the grandstand, with Graham playing his eighth test on the trot.
Graham, 25, a former Tauranga Boys' College teacher, knows how McGregor feels. He's been involved in the national squad for a couple of years following the retirement of Paul Woolford but has sat behind Wellingtonian Kyle Pontifex, rarely seeing any game-time.
"It's not a sport like rugby where you're on the bench knowing either you're likely to get a run because of injuries or get 10-15 minutes at the end of the test," Graham said. "Today was my 21st cap and it's been a long time coming, which is why I've loved every minute of this series."
Graham was efficient yesterday, letting in three goals but marshalling his defensive formation effectively.
After the disappointment of being dropped for last year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi when coach Shane McLeod opted for one 'keeper (Pontifex) and 15 outfielders to combat the heat, Graham wants to keep exerting pressure on his shot-stopping nemesis.
"The experience of playing against two good nations has been priceless, not only for me but for the newer guys too."
Graham's penalty corner defence is an area to work on 19 months out from the London Olympics.
There wasn't much he could do about drag flick sensation Jong Hyan Jang's two rockets yesterday, with the 189-test veteran rated one of the top five drag flick exponents in world hockey. His first strike crashed into the left-hand corner of the net while the second was high and right.
"Jang's top drawer, supremely quick and accurate," Graham said. "The first one I hardly saw but the second one I picked and got a touch to, although it was going so fast it nicked the stick, hit the crossbar and went in. On another day it might have deflected over the top."