Captain omitted from N.Z. hockey team

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 40

Captain omitted from N.Z. hockey team

PA Dunedin The national women’s hockey selectors dropped a bombshell when they omitted Jenny McDonald, of Otago, from the New Zealand team to play in the World Cup at Amsterdam in August.

McDonald, aged 36, the captain since 1980, has played for New Zealand in every test match over the last 15 years. She has played 94 games for New Zealand and has scored more than 200 goals in international matches. McDonald knew that the writing was on the wall after the international tournament in Sydney last April. “I wasn’t unprepared for it,” she said. “I felt that it was better for me not to go than to sit on the reserves benches.” McDonald has no intention of making an attempt to regain her place in the national team. “I will continue to play club hockey for Taieri

She has been replaced as captain by Mary Clinton, of Canterbury. Sue Furmage, of Auckland, Helen Littleworth, of Waikato, and Marie Corcoran, of Otago, are the team’s new caps. Furmage (nee Townsend) is a right side striker with plenty of pace who has played for Auckland for a number of years. Littleworth, a very promising youngster, has come up through the promotion of the junior women’s team. Other notable omissions from the side that played in the five nations tournament at Sydney in April are the Aucklanders, Julie Rowlands and Margot Edwards.

the last moment, suffered a back injury on tour. She is named as a non-travel-ling reserve for the Amsterdam trip. The goalkeeper, Rowlands, did not live up to her form on the Sydney tour and was dropped from the squad on the team’s return. The team is: Mary Clinton (captain), Shane Collins, Isabelle Thomson, Christine Arthur, Cathy Thompson, Kathy Paterson (Canterbury),. Jane Goulding (vice-captain), Robin Jeffares, Jan Martin, Sue Furmage (Auckland), Robyn Elliot, Tina Ben, Marie Corcoran (Otago), Anna Matthews (Hawke’s Bay), „ Leanne Rogers(Manawatu), Helen Littleworth (Waikato).

and represent Otago at the national tournament in Dunedin next September,” she said.

Edwards, who was called into the team to play the five nations tournament at Sydney at

Non-travelling reserves: Margot Edwards (Auckland), Trudy Kilkolly (Hawke’s Bay).