Scorelines don't reflect team's potential - coach

Northland men's hockey team's hefty losses during warm-up fixtures for their National Hockey League campaign did not do them any justice, says coach Vicky Gribble.
"The team has improved game after game and the scorelines we have had doesn't reflect the amount of improvement we have made," she said.
Northland men played a pre-NHL match against Midlands at North Harbour on Saturday and were beaten 7-0, followed the next day by a second clash with Auckland, who won 8-1. Northland also lost their first two warm-up matches against North Harbour and Auckland in August.
Gribble believed Northland had the ability to at least make fifth place - a move in the right direction after achieving seventh or eighth place (from eight teams) for the  past five or so years.
"We have the potential - there are a lot of good players in there ... the hardest bit is harnessing that potential," she said.
Gribble said Northland showed skill when they restricted Midlands to a 1-0 lead during the first half of Saturday's match. Her side had last year's NHL winners  rattled - Midland's passing was off and they were receiving the ball poorly - but Northland failed to back it up in the second half after making changes to their set patterns, she said.
The odds have been stacked against Northland from the outset of their campaign, however. They had difficulty securing a coach, prompting Gribble to put her hand up.
Northland also had to wait until the last minute to name their final squad of 18, so most training sessions have been held with only some players present.
Apart from goal keep Greg Paynter - a New Zealander playing club hockey in Australia - overseas guest players who were to join the squad fell through, so Northland had to wait to bid for five North Harbour guest players who were not named in their own regional side.
The two matches at the weekend  were the first time Northland had their full team available - with the exception of Paynter who will join the side once the tournament is under way - and they were a learning experience.
"In both games, we were still looking at combinations and, during the second half of the Midlands game, we found out what didn't work."
With only one full team training tomorrow night left before facing a skilful North Harbour side in their first NHL hit-out on Saturday, the men have plenty to concentrate on.
Meanwhile, an injury cloud remains over guest player Nick Binks (knee), whose fitness will be assessed today.
Northland play North Harbour at Whangarei's ITM Rosvall Stadium on Saturday, from 3pm.