Two teams stand out

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 35

Two teams stand out

Burnside I and Carlton, the leading teams in the senior women’s hockey competition last year will be the main contenders for the title again this year judging by the strengths of their squads.

Burnside I has changed little from last season. Debbie Perry will not be playing but Kate Trolove, a Canterbury under 21 representative last year, has been promoted from the Burnside II team. Mary Clinton, Linda O’Kane and Lorraine Rouse will provide the base of a strong defence. The attack will be led by Judith Phillips and Jane

Earnshaw with support from Leanne McFadden, Kieran Doig and Jayne Beattie. On the artificial turf Burnside should be a formidable combination. Carlton will be without the accomplished goalkeeping of Lesley Murdoch this season and promoted to take her place is Virginia Orr, a Canterbury under 17 representative last season. Shirley Haig will be out for the early part of the season, but a gain for the squad is Helen McKirchar, an Otago representative last season. Cathy Paterson, a member of the New Zealand World Cup team last year is still in Britain, but the defence will still be ade-

quate with players of the calibre of Mary Devine, Brenda Fleming, Hayley Read and Debbie Gillanders. Cathy Thompson will be the key player in the forward line with support from Sue Edmondson, Henrietta Carroll and Vicky Inch. Woolston is another side largely unchanged ' from last season. Isobel Thomson will lead the defence with assistance from Chris Arthur, and Shane Collins. A promotion from the senior reserve team is Maia Lewis, while others who will provide experience and stability are Sharon Stevens, in goal, Tracy Sinclair, Sue Duggan and Mary Davie. Selwyn has had one notable gain. Geneva Kara has joined the squad from Pegasus, but it has had losses. Tania Johnston, a competent goal-keeper, is in Dunedin and Nicky Sherriff will miss the early part of the season because of injury. Pip Wilson, Toni Nuttall and Rose Garnder remain

in the defence, an area Selwyn is well catered for, but it is short of forwards. The main thrust of the attack will come from Barbara Mitchell, Trish Hart and Jacki Nuttall. Harewood has been helped by the return of former players, Linda Bowie and Lynette Sutherland, and the gain of Felicity Gardner from Selwyn. Elaine Jensen, Janet Collerton, Thelma Kirk and Lynn Schulz will provide stability in the defence while the attack will be led by Maree Flannery, Lisa Sutherland and Leah Grafton. Burnside II will again be a young team. Tracy Jowers and Jillian Hack, two members of the Canterbury under 21 team last season, will carry a heavy responsibility in the defence, while the attack will be centred around Sharon Bell, Sally Pullan and June Connochie. Both Pegasus and Hornby had difficulty with the top teams last season