Women play cold

CENTRAL DUTIES: Whanganui international Emma Rainey is one of possibly seven from the River City playing in the combined Taranaki/Whanganui women's team in Palmerston North over Queen's Birthday.PHOTO/FILE

THE Whanganui/Taranaki combined women's side head into the Central Hockey League tournament over Queen's Birthday cold.

Coached by Whanganui's Jan Dixon, the squad that could feature up to seven River City players has had no time to practise as a unit in the lead-up to the four-match tournament.

Whanganui players named in the combined side include Emma Rainey, Rebecca Baker, Kate Tylee, Grace Godfrey, Sarah Stichbury, and possibly Melissa Goss and Amelia Stanley, who has been under an injury cloud and requires clearance to play. She will be assessed today.

Baker, Godfrey and Tylee are fresh from two wins from two games for the Dixon-coached U-18 Whanganui side last weekend in Napier.

"The combined team for this weekend don't get to practise before our first games in Palmerston North on Saturday just like the U-18 girls last weekend," Dixon said yesterday.

Dixon conceded there was ample individual talent in the team, but not knowing the Taranaki girls well did make life difficult.

"I don't know many of the Taranaki girls, so putting combinations together is going to be hard."

The combined side go under the Western Central banner in the tournament and they line up against teams from Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Mid Central (combined Horowhenua/Rangitikei).

Whanganui will send its own men's team to battle it out with rivals from Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Taranaki and Horowhenua.

Selectors searching for potential players to join the National Hockey League squad may also be on hand on Twin Turf in Palmerston North over the weekend.