N.Z. top seed in hockey cup

Press, 2 August 1985, Page 30

N.Z. top seed in hockey cup

By

KEVIN TUTTY

The New Zealand hockey team has been made the top seed for the Inter-Continen-tal Cup in Barcelona in October, and should comfortably qualify for the World Cup in London next year. Pools for the tournament were received by the secretary of the New Zealand Hockey Association, Mr Allan Barrett, yesterday. New Zealand has been drawn with Argentina, South Korea, Poland, Zimbabwe and a European country to be determined. Pool B contains Spain, Malaysia, Kenya, Canada, Japan and a European team to be decided. Three teams from the

European region, Belgium, Ireland and Scotland will play a tournament later this month to decide the final two places. The winner will be in New Zealand’s pool and the second team in pool B. The tournament draw has not been completed. Argentina is likely to be New Zealand’s most difficult opponent in pool play. The last time the teams met, at the World Cup in Bombay in 1982, Argentina had a surprise 5-3 win. At the same tournament New Zealand played Poland twice for 1-0 and 6-1 wins. Pool play at the tournament will be on October 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16, the semifinals on October 18, and the final on October 20.