N.Z. women off to poor hockey start

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 34

N.Z. women off to poor hockey start

From

New Zealand had a disappointing start to the Esanda four-nations women’s hockey tournament at Royal Park, Melbourne, losing to the United States, 0-3, in the opening match yesterday. The tournament is vital to the preparation of all four nations — New Zealand, United States, Canada and Australia — for the Olympic Games which begin in late July. Both New Zealand and the United States took the field without one of their key players, Julie Staver, the American co-captain, injured her hamstring in training and did not play, while Sheryl Law, the Auckland forward who would have played a big role in the attack, twisted her knee last Friday. She will have her cartilage operated on this Saturday and will not play at the tournament. New Zealand was also missing Mary Clinton, an experienced defender, who is still recovering from a broken bone in her foot. But while Law’s absence was a blow for New Zealand’s chances, it was not the sole reason for the loss. The United States team had a pattern to its play and its defence, at least in the second half, was better organised. The close marking and top-line tackling meant the New Zealand forwards had precious little room to work in and the wings were starved of possession.’ When the United States team was put under pressure, its players could pass

JANE DAVIDSON,

in Melbourne

and find support, but such backing up was missing from its opposition, which was often trapped in the defensive 30m of the ground. Consequently, New Zealand’s attacks were few and far between. After smin Cathy Thompson found space on the left wing to feed Harina Kohere, but the latter’s shot went over the top of the net. Shirley Haig, on the opposite wing, had little to do save for one burst Bmin from the end of the first spell when she put the ball into the side of the goal. The American captain. Beth Anders, finished off the penalty corners magnificently and scored the first two of her team’s three goals in the forty-seventh and sixty-first minutes. Then, to seal the New Zealanders’ fate, Sheryl Johnson, the inside forward, rammed home an impressive field goal. The New Zealand coach, Wayne Boyd, said afterwards that the Americans deserved their win and played in the aggressive style he expected. “They dominated us from the hit-off. The sort of pressure they had on New Zealand meant there was little ball for our forwards,” he said. Mr Boyd was also impressed with Thompson’s play. It was her first international and if her teammates play in a similar manner today, Australia will have a harder time than did the United States yesterday.