Young team has much to prove

New coach Greg Clark isn't about to make any wild predictions as Dalefield prepare to start their 2012 Wellington premier division men's hockey campaign with a match against Victoria University in Wellington tomorrow afternoon.

Ex-international Clark was a late appointment to the coaching role after news broke that Dalefield's participation in the premier league was in jeopardy, partly because there was nobody to fill that position and, while he is happy with what he has seen of his players, he knows they are facing an uphill battle.

"We've had a couple of trainings and there is some good talent around but it's far too early to start making any bold statements on how we might go," he said.

Clark knows the loss of players of the calibre of Junior Black Stick Dane Lett, his brother, Trent, and Wellington national league player Jesse Workman is a major blow for Dalefield.

The two Letts have transferred to Victoria University so will be among the opposition tomorrow while Workman is playing for a Melbourne club in the Victoria competition.

Clark is also aware that while the many youngsters in the Dalefield line-up will mean that enthusiasm should never be a problem, their inexperience may be another story.

"It's going to be a steep learning curve for a lot of them and it will be interesting to see how they cope," he said.

With that in mind, it's hardly surprising that Clark's main goal this season is to see Dalefield improve their level of performance from week to week and to be at least competitive no matter what the end result.

"Right now, it's more about how we play rather than worry about results, if we keep getting better then they should come, anyway," he said.

All told 16 players have been included in the Dalefield squad with last year's player-coach, Willie Schaefer, and the Masons, Greg and Chris, sure to play leading roles because of their vast experience.

Much, too, will be anticipated from the likes of Joseph Robertson, Alex Sumenko-Bucknell, Jackson Kibblewhite and Mitchell Blackwood; all of whom have made their mark at age group levels on the representative scene.

The full Dalefield squad is: Lucas Percy, Hayden Sargeant, Adam Birchall, Joseph Robertson, Alex Sumenko-Bucknell, Daniel van Woerkom, Mitchell Blackwood, Daniel Robertson, Dion Field, Greg Mason, Willie Schaefer, Chris Mason, Tane Workman, Ashton Shannahan, Jackson Kibblewhite, Casey Nolan.

Meanwhile, after a successful summer of twilight hockey, the all-new Kia Kaha women's hockey team is preparing to hit the turf for their first winter season. Spokes woman Catherine RossiterStead says a good number of players have already signed up but there are still a few places available, none proving more difficult to fill than goalkeeper. "We'd love to hear from anybody interested in donning the pads ... hopefully they won't be too busy."