Hockey: Little let-up in women's quest to be the best

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The "have stick, will play" adage is certainly the way for the New Zealand women's hockey team.

By the time Jan Borren and his 18 Black Sticks return from Perth on December 10, they will have played 29 games this year.

From the time they hosted a four-test series with the United States in May, there has been little respite.

After losing the first two tests against the Americans, our women bounced back for a 2-2 draw and ended the series with a 3-2 win. En route to the Manchester Commonwealth Games they lost 6-0 to the Dutch but rebounded well for a 1-1 draw in the second international.

At the Games, they drew 2-2 with England, beat eventual gold medallists India 3-1, beat Canada by the same score before losing their semifinal to India 2-1 and the 3rd/4th play-off 4-3 to Australia.

Within days, Borren and his team were in Macau, China, for the Champions Trophy. In a tough six-match schedule, they lost 1-0 to Argentina, 3-1 to Australia and 1-0 to China, beat England 5-0, drew 2-2 with the Dutch and wound it up with a 2-0 win over England to finish fifth.

The players then returned to play seven matches in the Lion Foundation-sponsored national league before beginning preparation for the tri-series which starts with tonight's game against Japan at Rosedale Park. That game will be followed by a tougher assignment at Lloyd Elsmore Park tomorrow against Argentina.

On Monday, after Japan and Argentina have met in the tri-series finale on Sunday, the three teams will fly to Perth.

New Zealand have a warm-up game against Canada on Wednesday before their first World Cup game, against Argentina, on Sunday week.

Each team will play seven pool matches and two post-section games in a hectic 15-day schedule.

After a summer break, the team, with or without Borren and perhaps one or two senior players who have also indicated they are considering retirement, will prepare for a four-test home series against Canada before meeting Australia in a three-match Olympic qualifying event.

Later they will play either - depending on their World Cup placing - the Champions Trophy (for the world's top six) or the Champions Challenge.

fusixpoint New Zealand: H. Clarke, A. Irving, P. Enoka, S. Bennett, L. Igasan, D. Weavers, R. Sutherland, M. Turner, K. Mee, S. Pearce C. Paewai, T. Drysdale, L. Bishop, P. Hamahona, J. Provan, C. Ward, A. Christie, N. Roberts-Lang. Coach: J. Borren. Assistant coach: S. Maister.