Dream of NZ spot drives return

A tanned and rested Rhonda Rowsell  is happy to be back playing premier women's hockey for Maungakaramea after a nine-month stint with Belgian club Braxgata.
Rowsell returned to Whangarei last week after a two-month break from competitive hockey and  training.
Following her team's 2-1 win over Kamo High School on Saturday, Rowsell  spoke to the Northern Advocate about her time abroad and her goals over the next few months.
 "It's a bit of a shock to the system to be playing again. I haven't played competitive hockey for two months and I travelled on the way home - I've just been in the Greek isles.
 "I'm eager to get back into it and it's full steam ahead with my training as of Monday."
Rowsell turned down  a lucrative contract with Braxgata, preferring  to play the National Hockey League season for Northland which  starts September 12,  when the Belgian season begins.
"It was a very, very hard decision," the 23-year-old said.
"The club were doing everything they could to keep me there and I had a lot to think about. Not only was it good money but the coaching style was fantastic and offered  a lot of individual tips.
"It was a huge learning experience and another season over there would have been valuable - all the pros were pointing to me staying there but if I don't play NHL this year then I won't be up for New Zealand selection early next year."
 The talented defensive playmaker has long dreamed of  representing NZ  and had to return to achieve that goal. 
Northland player Charlotte Harrison also had a contract at Braxgata with Rowsell but came back to New Zealand at Christmas, and was included in this year's Black Sticks.
Maungakaramea coach Paul Snelling said Rowsell had fitted into the team again nicely.
Teammate Nicole Hawkins sent the first goal into the box for Maungakaramea before Kamo High School's Tahi Boaz-Curry replied.
With 10 minutes remaining, Jonelle Culling secured the win for Maungakaramea 2-1, keeping them in second spot on the women's points table.
 Third-placed Whangarei Girls' High School side met Hikurangi  who are struggling in fourth spot.
Hikurangi dominated the first half with Toni Wright snatching the first goal off a penalty corner, though  in the second half the schoolgirls took charge. Samaria Tugaga equalised with a penalty corner and the final score was  1-1.
 In the men's six-a-side competition, Springfield 1 defeated Bream Bay 1 29-9, while Bream Bay 2 were too strong for Springfield 2, winning 27-14.
Both Maungakaramea teams won their matches over Mangapai and look likely to take berths in the final next weekend, the No1 team winning 28-16 and Maungakaramea 2 defeating Mangapai 2, 19-12.