HOCKEY - Young North side with a point to prove

Northland men's hockey team might be the hot pick around the traps to retain their wooden spoon this year but captain John Child isn't calling for the wagons to circle just yet.
Passion and pride will feature as strong motivation when they take on the import-laden teams in the NHL with a true-blue squad of Northlanders.
"We've gone for an all Northland line-up this year and it's going to give all the young fellows a bit more experience at this level and that'll be good for the future of the province in the competition," Child said.
The benefit of blooding young players means that, unlike imports, they'll be back next year.
The youngsters are backed up with plenty of experienced players in the side - four of them, if you count manager Darren Jones, Mark Meyer, Bevan Gibbs and Carlo Aprea, were in the last Northland team to win the title in 1996.
Meyer will be looking for his 100th cap this season and there are a number of players who will reach their 50th cap milestones in 2007 and Child expects provincial pride to help the side in its campaign.
"We finished last last year, so there's only one way to go from there ... a couple of years ago we finished fifth and it was the highest we'd been for a long time and hopefully if we can knock one of those big teams over then it's game on."
Like their female counterparts they will be looking for a bright start in their opening two matches in the NHL against Canterbury and Southern next week in Hamilton but Child believes they are ready.
"Having a new coach (Richard Storey) has been a good thing I think and the boys are the fittest they've been for quite a while so that's a good thing, so at least we know we're ready there and that might give us an edge in one or two of the games."
The game plan is simple - to absorb the pressure from the more fancied teams and strike whenever possible.
"Getting goals is the key to any game and if we only have two or three chances in a game we want to put those chances away and then put the pressure on our opponents by keeping it tight in defence."
Northland's defence has a settled look to it but it is the forwards that have the job in front of them to improve their scoring record this season.
The 2007 NHL will mark another historic milestone - the 100-year anniversary of the Men's Challenge Shield.
As well as a host of imports, hockey fans can also be sure of seeing the very best of New Zealand's talent compete in the competition this year, with the vast majority of the Black Sticks men and women taking part.
Team line-up and players to watch
Northland men: John Child (captain), Jareth Cocking, Dion Watts, Thomas Keogh, Mark Meyer, Mark Thorne, Bryce Reid, Andrew MacLennen, Carlo Aprea, Josh Hodgson, Bevan Gibbs, Tama Jones, Brad Cotton, Jake Symmes, Sam Webb, Ferdinand Von Oertzen, David Heappey, Ryan Cocking. Coach: Richard Storey; assistant coach: Graeme Bint.
Players to watch:
Dion Watts: 22, Springfield, half/striker. Watts missed last season's campaign but has been in good form for his club side all season - needs to take that form into the NHL.
Sam Webb: 20, Maungakaramea, striker. If Webb can get his A game going then he will punish nay provincial side. The New Zealand under-21 player has a gift for scoring and it will be needed.
Jareth Cocking: 18, Maungakaramea, goalkeeper. Cocking tipped the balance club final. Second season for Northland seniors and will need to be on song as it could be a busy place to be against the top teams.
Bevan Gibbs: 33, Springfield, midfield.Started the campaign as a selector but was needed in the front line - will give everything.
Draw:
Round 1; September 22, v Canterbury at Hamilton, 9.30am; Round 2, September 23, v Auckland at Hamilton, 11pm; Round 3, September 29, v North Harbour at Albany; Round 4, September 30, v Midlands at Whangarei, 1pm; Round 5, October 6, v Auckland at Auckland; Round 6, October 7, v Wellington at Whangarei; Round 7, October 10, v Central at Albany.
" Semifinals start at Albany on Oct 12, with finals the following day.