Breaks between matches too big — hockey captain

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 48

Breaks between matches too big — hockey captain

The New Zealand women’s hockey te am returned home yesterday unbeaten after a 25-match tour of Canada, West Germany, and Britain, but a little disappointed that it did not do better than third at the international tournament in Edinburgh.

The captain, Pat Barwick of Canterbury, said it was a little shattering to realise the team had not lost a match and beaten Wales, the runner-up, 2-1 after the tournament. “But that’s the way it goes.”

Mrs Barwick felt that long gaps — two to three day; —between matches at the tournament was the reasor. the team did not finish anx higher. “The interval was toe great for us, the Australians, and the Japanese, because we lacked the international experience of the othei earns,” she said. “After a two or three-day rest we found it difficult tc each a peak for the nex natch. We were used tc slaying with about one day >f rest in eight.” The organisation of the pools had not been very sue-' :essful. It was a new system, but Mrs Barwick felt it would need to be changed before the next tournament.

The teams initially played in pools, then for one day played on a knock-out basis, and then reverted to a pool

system again to find the inalists. A draw against the Argentine in the second pool proved “disastrous” and ended New Zealand’s hopes of a place in the final. “We had the better of play but could not score,” said Mrs Barwick. The Argentine inished sixth. HIGHLIGHT The highlight of the tour was the win against Wales ifter the tournament. Mrs Jarwick said it was probibly the best game she had played in and one of the oest matches seen in Wales. A win over West Germany

prior to the tournament was another highlight, and a morale booster for the team. An ability to knit together and the versatility of the team members were the chief reasons for the side performing so well, Mrs Barwick said. The other three Canterbury women in the side — all representing New Zealand for the first time — did very well, said Mrs Barwick. Lynn Schulz had a fine game against West Germany, and Judith Phillips and Shirley Haig were prominent in many matches and scored a host of goals between them.