Bhana forced out of team by injury

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 24

Bhana forced out of team by injury

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Balvant Bhana, the former Canterbury and New Zealand hockey representative, has spent two years trying to achieve full fitness to enable him to play at representative level again. Two weeks ago Bhana was set to take his place in the Canterbury team to play at the Post Office Savings Bank national tournament which starts in Wellington today. But in his eagerness to improve his speed ahd fitness he damaged knee ligaments and he reluctantly, on Friday, made the decision to withdraw from the team.

Three years ago at the national tournament at Palmerston North, Bhana played for Canterbury with a damaged right knee. He played so well in that tournament, in spite of the injury, that he was included in the New Zealand Olympic squad.

After the tournament he had surgery and was not allowed to train for four months. He had to withdraw from the Olympic squad. Bhana spent 1984, 1985 and 1986 working back to near top fitness and felt he was sufficiently recovered to tackle a tournament on the artificial surface at Mount Albert Park. Ironically it was his left knee which he damaged in the latest mishap. The loss of Bhana and Greg Pierce, who broke a thumb in an international against Australia early in August, is

disappointing for the Canterbury coach, Ewen Holstein, but he believes Canterbury still has the players capable of winning the tournament A Linwood defender, Scott Hobson, aged 19, comes into the Canterbury A team for the first time to replace Bhana. A son of a former New Zealand captain, Hobson has made steady progress in the last two seasons and he will be thrown straight into the fray taking the right half position.

Pierce would have been the centre half, but that essential role will now fall on David Penfold, aged 21. He is not unfamiliar with the position. He plays there for the Canterbury club champion. Liquorland Harewood. There was an injury doubt over. Mark Burtt but he received physiotherapy throughout last week and will take his place in the squad. Canterbury has been drawn in a pool with Hamilton. Wellington, and Wairarapa. It plays Hamilton today, Wellington tomorrow, and Wairarapa on Wednesday.

Mr Holstein would have liked to play Wellington on Wednesday, but last year the team from the capital missed a place in the semi-finals, the reason why it has been seeded lower than Wairarapa. Wellington will be a much different proposition this season. The Miskimmin brothers, Peter and Brent have returnedxfrom overseas and their experience and enthusiasm has brought new life to the team.

Wellington has discovered an exciting new centreforward, Graham Taylor, who is a danger to any defence if allowed space to roam. There if, one advantage which Wellington has over Canterbury, and the favourite to win the tournament, Auckland. It has played New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina on the artificial surface at Mount Albert Park and has had the ideal preparation.

Auckland, because of the efficient combination it has established, will still be diffi-

cult to beat It won the Champions Tournament at Queen's Birthday Week-end in Wellington without Peter Daji. He is now back in the squad but will have to work hard to retain his place in the No. 1 XI.

With the wise head of Jeff Archibald guiding the team from centre-half, and Ramesh Patel directing the attack from inside left, Auckland, if it plays anywhere near its best, will be hard to overcome.

Canterbury’s defence had its worries at the Champions Tournament, but has shown more consistency since then. Robin Wilson has overcome a low period, and Mark Tynan has regained the confidence that seemed to be lacking at times earlier in the season.

Don Davis, one of the goalkeepers, had a loss of form after being dumped from the New Zealand team in June, and has been replaced as No. 1 goalie by Dave Stuthridge. But Davis is too good a

custodian to be kept out of the top position for long. Only one change has been made to the forward line. David Grundy will be the right wing in the No. 1 XI replacing Peter Tynan. Grundy will provide speed and skill that any opposing left half will find difficult to cope with. Canterbury B, which won the second section of the national tournament last year, starts its defence with a hard game today. It will meet Auckland B. Canterbury B has not been beaten this year and has in its possession the Thomson Trophy which was won from Southland at last year’s national tournament It is at stake in every representative match and it is a matter of pride that the B team has retained it this season. Its programme has included a match with Canterbury A. If anything, the B team is slightly stronger than it was last year.