Former Kuranui College first XI and Dalefield premier men's hockey player Andy Ewington is making a big name for himself in Ireland.
Ewington - who has just been named in the New Zealand Barbarians squad which will defend their Oceania Pacific Cup crown in Fiji starting tomorrow - was contracted toplay for the Monkstown club in Ireland in August last year, not long after having helped High School Boys to the major spoils in the Manawatu senior men's inter-club competition.
Ewington made an immediate impact with Monkstown, being the leading goal-scorer for their top combination last season.
He is well on the way to repeating that feat this year, scoring two of their goals when Monkstown beat Bangor 3-0 in the first of their Irish Senior Cup matches on November 13.
Both of his goals in the game against Bangor came from drag flicks, which have become a Ewington speciality.
Through his association with Monkstown, Ewington is getting the chance to play all over Europe in different leagues and against opposition which often include players who have performed on the international stage, some of them New Zealanders.
It was on one of his European trips that Ewington was spotted and asked to play for the New Zealand Barbarians, who are aiming for their third Oceania Pacific Cup title in a row over the next fortnight.
