Finest in world here for festival of hockey

Sam Charlton (left), Rose Keddell and Petrea Webster, Black Sticks players, at the Regional Sports Park in Hastings. Photo / File

Top women's hockey teams from around the world will descend on the region for the Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey this month.

Among the eight international teams that will play in the Hawke's Bay Cup tournament as part of the festival is newcomer, the US women's team.

Hawke's Bay Sports Events and Education Consortium (HBSEEC) event director David Nancarrow said he was excited to welcome the US team, which had jumped from eighth to fifth in the latest world rankings released last month.

"The USA have become the team to watch as far as world rankings are concerned and we are delighted that they are one of two new teams taking part in the Festival of Hockey."

He said the other new team to the tournament, the India women's team, had qualified for the semifinals of the Women's Hockey World League in June, and a sound performance at that tournament may also mean a jump in world ranking.

The Hawke's Bay Cup tournament begins next Saturday, with China and India clashing at 1.30pm. The Black Sticks women's team will play their opening match of the tournament against Japan at 7.30pm.

The eight teams competing in the tournament will include Australia, ranked second internationally, and Argentina, ranked third.

New Zealand, who were fourth at the Olympics and third at the Commonwealth Games, are ranked fourth overall.

Mr Nancarrow said a large amount of work had been done at the Regional Sports Park in Hastings during the past 12 months to upgrade the infrastructure, following last year's inaugural tournament.

"Coaches and players will notice that major improvements have been made to the pitch shelters for this year's tournament."

The second annual Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey runs from April 7 to 19, with more than 80 games hosted at the Regional Sports Park and Park Island in Napier.

-For tickets and further festival information, visit the website: www.hockeyfestival.nz