New team rising to challenge

A fortnight in for the "two-edged sword" experiment of introducing a second Wanganui women's team into the Hockey Manawatu Club competition and Ian Glenny is loving the progress.

Wanganui Hockey's guru is managing the new Tech College Old Boys women's team - who just like to call themselves "Techno" to avoid the oxymoron of their actual title.

A brainchild of operations manager Kylie Penn, who plays in the team, TCOB have been raised from scratch to double Wanganui's female roster playing at a higher club level.

Careful not to poach or transfer players from the resident Collegians side, TCOB contains three to four very good players who have been at this level, other veterans, plus some in their early 20s who have not played since high school.

Glenny said originally the team was not even going to practice, but have now put in some work as they look to the future.

They have already proved a handful - drawing their first two competition games with PNGHS (2-2 on April 6) and the first local derby with Collegians (1-1 last Saturday), although in a competition with past and present Black Sticks, Glenny said self improvement over results is the goal.

"We've had some very strong females that, if given the opportunity, could do very well.

"It's a positive challenge, the girls are taking on the challenge.

"It's a long-term winning thing - but that's not going to come for a few seasons."

The players, several of whom like Penn are involved in age-grade club hockey with their children, can also take what they learn back to those grades as coaching tools, Glenny said.

Increasing the higher level roster depth for representative selection from 15 to 30 will also strengthen Wanganui in the Central Hockey League.

Indeed, last Sunday the Wanganui women's side came from behind to beat Hawke's Bay 6-3, although Glenny pointed out at this stage only three Techno players were in that squad.

As the team goes on and other young women coming up to top grade have a choice of who they want to play for, Glenny said Techno has already developed a great culture that is welcoming.

Techno has a bye tomorrow, while Collegians play the Evergreens in Wanganui at 3pm.

In the men's competition, TCOB travel to face Palmerston North Boys High School, while Rangers face Massey at home in Wanganui at 1.30pm.

In representative Central Hockey League, both the women's and men's teams have away games in Taranaki on Sunday.

The TCOB women's team is: Amelia Williams, Cherie Spooner, Dale Phillips, Kylie Penn, Lauren Mooney, Letica Steel, Melissa Hylton, Michelle Blanch, Michelle Low, Nicky McGregor, Nicky Skedgwell, Kathryn Paul, Sarah Reid, Tess Meha. Coach: Mason Glenny. Manager: Ian Glenny.