Hockey: Black Sticks fancy chances

Black Sticks squad member Charlotte Harrison. Photo / Joel Ford

The New Zealand men's and women's hockey teams will share more than the Black Sticks name at the Commonwealth Games.

They go in with the same ambition of a metallic souvenir of New Delhi, with the women believing theirs could be gold.

With the top four nations in women's hockey not part of the Commonwealth, the side co-skippered by Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor are the Games' third seeds behind England and Australia.

England, Australia and New Zealand occupy consecutive rungs on the world rankings ladder, suggesting that the battle for medals at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium will be a close one.

Naylor, her squad's most experienced player with 139 caps to her name, is certain about her targets.

"Definitely a medal, and I guess our goal is to get a gold medal," she said.

"All the teams there are beatable if we play good hockey. I think we have as good a chance as anyone, so we'll be pushing for gold."

The hockey programme runs from the first day of competition next Monday to the Games' final day on October 14.

Both the men's and women's events have 10 teams split into two pools.

The New Zealand women have England in their grouping, but they have avoided the two countries seen as the most dangerous outsiders, India and South Africa.

The Black Sticks' build-up has included a seventh placing at the World Cup in Argentina this month (September), a result that lifted their world ranking to seventh.

Naylor said being more clinical in both circles - including winning and converting more penalty corners - was a major lesson from Rosario.

The defender is one of four centurions in the squad, along with midfielders Sharland and Stacey Carr, and striker Krystal Forgesson.

Goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit is just one short of the ton, while striker Charlotte Harrison is also in line to reach the milestone in India.

New Zealand's women have been there or thereabout in the three previous Commonwealth hockey tournaments, taking bronze in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and finishing fourth in the past two Games.

The New Zealand men haven't been as consistent, but have gone one better in taking home silver from Manchester in 2002.

Silver looks likely to be the best they can hope for in New Delhi, given the Australian men's dominance.

The Kookaburras have already won this year's two biggests tournaments - the World Cup, which was held in the Indian capital, and the Champions Trophy - and are ranked No 1 in the world.

New Zealand's world ranking of seven puts them third among Commonwealth nations.

They are in the same pool as the world No 4 England, a draw coach Shane McLeod was happy with.

While the likes of Canada and South Africa could cause problems, the Black Sticks had avoided tricky assignments against India and Pakistan.

"You always need a bit luck and you have to play well and make sure your base is sound, but we give ourselves every chance of a medal," McLeod said.

The Black Sticks have an idea of what to expect in New Delhi, having played in the World Cup in March, when they finished ninth.

Striker Simon Child, who pulled out that event because of security concerns, will be at the Games.

However, New Zealand will be without two of their most experienced players, midfielder Ryan Archibald and defender Blair Hopping, who each have more than 200 caps but who are taking time out from international hockey for personal reasons.

- NZPA