Interaction key to success

Can promise on paper become triumph on-field?A good team culture will be paramount to the Northland Women's team's success at the 2011 National Hockey League.
Coach Alan Lints has firmed up his final team of 18 for the upcoming tournament, and said while Northland was one of the strongest teams on paper, promoting an inclusive team environment would be critical to their on-field performance.
"How we interact as a team is so important for us so a lot of our emphasis is on creating good relationships within the group," Lints said.
The coach hopes the off-field bond will lift team spirit and drive the women's desire to achieve when they head into the tournament at the end of this month.
Deciding on the final squad was a difficult task for Lints, who is in his second year of coaching the Northland women.
He had to weigh up whether they would be better off taking an extra striker, or if they had enough defensive cover, he said.
"In the end we went with another striker ... we want to play an aggressive, attacking game. We have six in the striking role and, defensively, I'm happy with where we are at. In saying that, the squad is flexible. We need them to be flexible and fluid, and able to take on different roles on the field when needed," the coach said.
Northland will play their second pre-NHL tournament match tomorrow against Auckland, at Rosvall ITM Stadium.
After suffering a 0-3 loss to North Harbour three weeks ago, Lints said the focus of tomorrow's game was for his team to convert any goal-scoring opportunity, as well as getting the strikers to help put up a defensive screen.
It was also a chance for the team to check out who Lints reckoned are Northland's closest rivals this year ahead of the NHL.
"I think Auckland will be our main competition at the tournament - everyone in that team has represented New Zealand at one level or another, which is much like our team."
With eight of the team unavailable - including six Black Sticks and two Black Sticks Development players plus two Australian imports - for the match against Auckland, it will give everyone else in the team an opportunity to put their hand up for a place in the starting lineup, including Elley Miller and Melissa Simpson. The two Kerikeri High School Year senior students were included in the team after making their debut last year.
"These girls are athletes with huge potential and part of the strategic plan is that they learn off some of New Zealand's best players," Lints said.
To cover for the absentees, Lints has promoted five Northland Under-18 players - boosting numbers and giving the youngsters a learning experience.
Meanwhile, Northland Men also have a pre-tournament game tomorrow against Auckland, but will line up without their guest players and several injured players.
It is the first of four matches they will play before the NHL. Northland Men play North Harbour on July 9 and a match against Capital on July 10, both in Taupo, before their final pre-NHL hit out against Midlands, at North Harbour on July 24.
Men's coaches Mike Delaney and Vicki Gribble will name their final squad of 18 early next week.
The NHL begins on July 30-31 with games at varied venues, followed by a week of competition from August 6-14, in Wellington.
Tomorrow's match between Northland Women and Auckland starts at 12pm, and the men's game at 1.30pm.
Northland NHL Women: Charlotte Harrison, Laura Douglas, Anna Thorpe, Jasmin McQuinn, Alana Millington, Ella Gunson, Carli Michelsen, Stacey Michelsen, Elley Miller, Tarannah Vette, Emma Cobbin (NSW), Jess Esslemont (NSW), Nicky Howe, Nicky Mathews, Melissa Simpson, Jacinda McLeod, Hollie Smith, Jade McLeod.