Hockey: Two debutants named in Black Sticks

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Two debutants have been named in the women's Black Sticks national squad to prepare for a busy year of hockey.

Canterbury striker Sophie Cocks and Auckland defender Elizabeth Thompson have won selection in a squad of 26, aimed to carry through to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July-August next year.

Two injured senior players, Stacey Michelsen and Katie Glynn are included, although neither will have recovered from serious knee injuries in time for either the Oceania Cup in Taranaki at the end of October, or the World League finals in Argentina in December.

For the first time in a while neither of the Harrison sisters, Charlotte or Sam, are included.

Sam Harrison has opted to make herself unavailable and is playing in Belgium, while Charlotte has been omitted, but remains in the development group.

North Harbour defender Joseph Bartholomew has caught men's coach Colin Batch's eye after a strong national tournament and has been promoted from the development squad back into the senior group.

"One of the features of his games is his tackling and defensive organisation which is something we want to improve as a team," Batch said.

The men's squad of 25 has been strengthened by the return of experienced players Simon Child, Steve Edwards and Nick Wilson from the group which matched the women in finishing fourth at the World League three tournament in the Netherlands this year.

NEW ZEALAND SQUADS

Men:
Goalkeepers: Hamish McGregor (Southern), Devon Manchester (Auckland)
Defenders: Cory Bennett, Joseph Bartholomew (North Harbour), Dean Couzins (Auckland), Nick Haig, Bradley Shaw (Canterbury), Andy Hayward (Midlands), Blair Tarrant, Kane Russell (Southern), Alex Shaw (Capital).
Midfielders: Phil Burrows (Capital), Arun Panchia, Marcus Child (Auckland), Shea McAleese (Central), George Muir, Steve Edwards (North Harbour).
Strikers: Simon Child, Jared Panchia (Auckland), James Coughlan (North Harbour), Nick Wilson (Central), Hugo Inglis (Southern), Shay Neal (Northland), Stephen Jenness, Blair Hilton (Capital).

Women:
Goalkeepers: Amelia Gibson (Canterbury), Bianca Russell (North Harbour), Sally Rutherford (Midlands).
Defenders/midfielders: Bridget Blackwood, Pippa Hayward (Canterbury), Brooke Neal (Midlands), Rhiannon Dennison (North Harbour), Liz Thompson, Danielle Jones (Auckland), Sam Charlton, Rose Keddell (Midlands), Aniwaka Roberts (Capital), Emily Naylor (Central).
Midfielders/strikers: Michaela Curtis, Kayla Sharland (Central), Gemma Flynn (Midlands), Cass Reid, Sophie Cocks, Olivia Merry, Sian Fremeaux (Canterbury), Petrea Webster (North Harbour), Anita Punt (Capital), Katie Glynn , Krystal Forgesson, Julia King (Auckland), Stacey Michelsen (Northland).