Some surprises in N.Z.’s World Cup hockey team

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 44

Some surprises in N.Z.’s World Cup hockey team

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Logic has not always been evident in the selection of New Zealand hockey teams in the last few years, and the side announced last week for the World Cup in London, in October has its share of perplexing selections.

In the last five years players have been selected and discarded with such abandon that there are enough baffled cast-offs around New Zealand to form a squad of former internationals.

The World Cup team — the squad will also play in a three-nation series with Australia and Argentina in Wellington in August — was apparently picked largely on past form, except for the two new caps. Past performances were obviously going to play a large part in selection. New Zealand had a relatively successful year in 1985, beating both West Germany and Australia at home. Those teams finished first and second at the Champions Trophy

tournament in Karachi in April. It would have been illogical to make wholesale changes to a squad which has been built up gradually over four or five years, and with the P. 0.5.8. Champions tournament so early in the season it was likely a few players would struggle to reach their best form.

With the bulk of the domestic season, the series against Australia and Argentina and the national tournament still to come, the players have ample hockey ahead of them. If the national players had been at peak form in Wellington at Queen’s Birthday Weekend it would have been a worry for the national coach, Trevor Blake.

Over the summer, several players had their first substantial break

from the game since before the Los Angeles Olympics, and are building their way back to form. This was obviously taken into account in some cases and those players were selected, but others in the same position, were ignored by Mr Blake and his fellow selectors, Kevin Towns (Auckland), and Bob

Campbell (Christchurch). They finally made the decision to exclude Stuart Grimshaw from consideration. Grimshaw has lived in Melbourne for several seasons. It would have been unfair to others to select him ahead of players in New Zealand, when he had not been seen by the selection panel. But if Grimshaw cannot feel too hard done by, several players who were at the Champions tournament, and who have played for New Zealand, could not be blamed for feeling dissatisfied. Dave Peterson (Auckland) and Don Davis (Canterbury) were both members of the New Zealand team which finished second in the Inter-Con-tinental Cup in, Barcelona last October, which qualified New Zealand for the World Cup. They were omitted from the team, although their form was no worse than some players named in the squad. Peterson played consistently at full-back for Auckland during the Champions tournament, but has been dropped, apparently to make way for another forward. The selectors have only one regular provincial fullback in the squad, Neil McLeod (Northland). Robin Wilson (Canterbury) will probably be the other full back.

Davis made two glaring errors in goal for Canterbury, but he also made some spectacular saves and, one would have thought, done enough to justify his place. lan Woodley (Auckland), one of the new caps, was never under much pressure in the Auckland goal, and he made a glaring error in the Canterbury match. Perhaps he won selection by virtue of having committed fewer bad errors. Of more concern in the goal-keeping area, though, is the selection of John Melhuish. He is out of New Zealand. He will not be back until next month and according to reports is not playing hockey at present. Alan Lints (Northland) is the second new cap. He has been included to replace Grimshaw. He played steadily in the Northland team at centre half. He tackled well, although his passing lacked direction at times.

The most unlucky player to miss out was Brent Miskimmin, who played centre half for Wellington. He had not played hockey for five months and returned to Wellington from overseas only two weeks before the tournament. He lacked a little in fitness but his general play, especially his passing, was sound. Being able to pass is a large part of a half’s task. Leaving out a player of Miskimmin’s class is hard to fathom.

Miskimmin might have been better advised not to play in the tournament, like the Aucklander, Peter Daji. Daji, too, had returned from an extended period overseas only weeks before the tournament and decided his form was not good enough for him to play in Wellington.

But the selectors included him, even though they must have known he had been dropped from one of the leading English club sides a few months ago.

John Radovonich (Canterbury) and Simon Norton (Auckland), who played for New Zealand last year but were not in the Inter-Continental Cup squad, have regained their places. Radovonich plays as a forward for Canterbury, but is likely to be used as a half in the New Zealand team. Norton played on the left wing, where his speed enabled him to outrun many defenders. However, his lack of close control might prove a fault overseas.

Of the other players selected some played well and some poorly. Wilson and Greg Pierce (Canterbury) were both well below their best form, but are too accomplished not to put their present problems behind them. McLeod was constructive only in the final game. In the previous four games he was obsessed with overhead passes to no-one, and deep hits to the sideline, often when there was no pressure on the defence, and with halves and forwards waiting for passes. Laurie Gallen (Wellington) struggled through the tournament with a leg injury, and was obviously selected on his past games for New Zealand. There were several other forwards who were of more value. What must have been especially encouraging for the selectors was the form of Jeff Archibald, the New Zealand captain, and Ramesh Patel (both Auckland). Archibald stood clearly above any other centre half, and it is not overstating the matter to say that Patel played some of the best hockey of his career.

These two players are the oldest in the team, and further evidence that hockey players do not reach full maturity until they are around 30 years of age. The pity is that this has not been appreciated by recent selection panels. The New Zealand team would surely be in better shape if there had been more stability, and players were given time to mature.

Chris Brown (Auckland) was sound and unobtrusive at left half for his provincial team, and Jim Smith (Auckland), in spite of a niggling injury, did enough to warrant selection.

Peter Miskimmin (Wellington) was obviously short of matches, but his skills continue to improve and he will be back to top form within a short time. Chris Leslie (Canterbury), might have been worried about his position in the forward line after the Auckland game, but he had done enough in the previous games to hold his place.

Over-all the team is well balanced and has the capabilities to perform well at the World Cup. It will have an ideal preparation, so if it performs poorly there can be no excuses.