No worries for Retter ahead of big clash

Dalefield women's hockey coach Rochelle Retter isn't fazed at the prospect of her relatively inexperienced line-up taking on defending champions Hutt in their Wellington premier division match at Clareville tomorrow.
Buoyed by her side's strong showing in their 2-1 loss to Indians last weekend and unsure as to whether Hutt will be fielding a side similar to that of last year, Retter is taking a "anything is possible" attitude into the game.
"You can never be too sure what will happen in early-season games so there's no point in dwelling on the past, you just have to get out there and do the best you can," she said.
Retter said the Indians match was one which Dalefield probably should have drawn, or even won, because of the scoring opportunities they created but the effort of getting to within one goal of last year's runners-up had still been a confidence booster to her team.
"We can do better but there were a lot of positives to come out of it. We were competitive against a good side so it was certainly a step in the right direction," she said.
The Dalefield line-up for tomorrow's game, which gets under way at 1pm, will be somewhat different from last weekend with the St Matthew's College players not available because of inter-school commitments
However, their absence has been tempered by the fact that a group of Wairarapa College players who were not available themselves last weekend will be on deck this time, including Tara Hall, Georgia Burton and the Parkers, Lily and Megan
Retter is confident they will acquit themselves well, as she is that young goalkeeper Lauren Hartnell will be a worthy understudy for the impressive Sara Crofoot, who is one of the missing St Matthew's players.
"It's a baptism of fire but she (Hartnell) will handle it, she's very promising," she said
The Dalefield men will also have several changes in their starting XI for their 2.30pm Wellington premier division match with Northern United at Clareville tomorrow from that walloped 12-0 by Indians last Saturday.
Returning to the fold will be skipper Mark Scully and other first stringers Willie Waitere and the Mason brothers, Chris and Greg and their experience and skill should lead to a sharply improved performance against a Northern United side who will be missing their inspirational leader, ex-Wairarapa rep Jamie Schaefer.
Dalefield coach Mark Fenwick says that while the Indians defeat was hardly the start his team wanted it had taught them some harsh lessons,including the need to protect possession, particularly in your own half.
"It seemed like just about every time we gave up the ball they scored and that's what happens at this level, you just can't afford to do that," he said.
Fenwick said the extent of last weekend's loss wouldn't stop Dalefield from adopting a positive stance in tomorrow's game .
"Nothing would be gained from going into our shell, we have to bounce back and we don't do that by being negative," he said.