Tough hockey task for N.Z.

Press, 24 June 1989, Page 14

Tough hockey task for N.Z.

PA Sydney The New Zealand women’s hockey team is not expecting its task in the fourth and fifth tests against Australia this week-end to be made much easier by the presence of newcomers in the Olympic champion side. Having wrapped up the series with a 3-0 win in Sydney on Wednesday, the Australian coach, Brian Glencross, said he intended to draft some younger squad members into the team for the remaining tests in Canberra today and tomorrow. But he also made it clear that he wants the Australian women’s team to keep improving for the World Cup in Sydney next year and the 1992 Olympics. The New Zealand coach, Pat Barwick, is expecting

wholesale personnel changes to the Australian team today. "They are looking to develop four or five younger players, but it must be remembered they’re not really new to international hockey as they’ve had two or three years at the Australian Institute of Sport," she said.. “They’ll still be tough and we’ll still be up against it.” Mrs Barwick indicated there would be little or no change to the New Zealand combination for the fourth test. The Kiwis would just try to build on the same pattern of play which had seen them match their illustrious opponents for most of the second test and the first half of the third test. That pattern involves tight marking and controlling possession through the midfield.