Opening rounds will determine Dalefield squad

Dalefield women's hockey coach Rochelle Retter intends to use the first three matches in the Wellington premier division competition, starting tomorrow against Indians at the National Hockey Stadium, to decide on the final composition of her side for the 2008 season. Retter currently has a squad of 22 in training and with many of them being college players she needs time to sort out who will handle the pressures of premier division hockey, and who won't.
"We don't have any problems with numbers wanting to play but a lot of them haven't experienced this level of hockey before and it's a matter of seeing if they can cope," Retter said.
Whoever she selects though it is safe bet that Dalefield will field the youngest side in the premier league with the list of "seasoned campaigners" currently being confined to Ana-May Playle, Alice Davies and Karen James although Retter is still optimistic that both Jody Graham and Janeen Bruce will appear again as well,if only on an irregular basis.
Of the younger brigade those likely to be part of the action tomorrow include Laura Walsh, Amanda Pottinger, Lily Parker, Megan Parker, Tara Hall, Danya Yeo,Paige Goodin, Charlotte Meo and goalkeeper Sara Crofoot, who was so impressive in that crucial role last season.
The Indians line-up is expected to be somewhat different from that which finished runners-up in the premier division last year with the rumour mill suggesting a number of that side have moved on. Two ex-Wairarapa players in their team are Holly Gaskin and Leah Kershaw.
The Dalefield men will also open their Wellington premier division campaign tomorrow and they too will square up to Indians at the National Hockey Stadium.
The depth of talent in the Dalefield squad this season is evidenced by the fact that despite players of the calibre of Chris Mason, Dane Lett, Greg Mason, Willie Waitere and Mark Scully being unavailable for the opening match coach Mark Fenwick remains confident Dalefield will give the defending champions a good run for their money.
"Obviously we will be the underdogs but we're expecting to make a close game of it,
we should be very competitive," he said.
Fenwick anticipates the Indians defence being well tested by a Dalefield forward line containing three prolific goal scorers in Rowan Yeo, Jesse Workman and Shane Hodgkiss. "We've got real pace and skill up front and we have to use that," Fenwick said.
At the other end of the field Dalefield will have a very promising goalkeeper in Orin Lockyer and also likely to be in the starting XI are Nathan Shannahan, Thomas Merriman, Mark Scully, Camus Wyatt, Tobyn Yeo and Todd Sugrue.