Eight South Islanders in team

Press, 15 September 1989, Page 40

Eight South Islanders in team

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Eight South Island players have been included in the New Zealand President’s men’s hockey team to play in the inaugural trans-Tasman hockey series in March next year. Five of the players are from Canterbury, including the New Zealand representatives, Chris Leslie and David Penfold, Nelson has two, and the West Coast one.

Canterbury failed to qualify for the inaugural tournament transTasman fixture when .it lost the play-off for third and fourth in the Challenge Shield section at the national tournament in Whangarei two weeks ago. Canterbury was beaten 2-1 by its old rival Wellington in the play-off

which brought a disappointing end to the season after Canterbury started the nationals with realistic hopes of success after winning the Champions tournament in Wellington in June.

The other three Canterbury players in the squad are Grant Edwards and David Grundy from Canterbury A and Mark Gowans from Canterbury B.

Nigel Strawbridge, who spearheaded Nelson’s bid for a place in the final of the Newman’s Trophy (second section) at the national tournament has earned himself a place in the squad along with his team-mate, Mike Gaffa.

Thomas Flannagen, the West Coast goal-keeper is the other South

Islander in the team. Flannagen helped his team win a place in the semi-finals in the Newman’s Trophy section.

The President’s team will join Auckland, Wellington and Northland to play the New South Wales and Queensland state team in the transTasman series. the full President’s team is:

Rodney Journeaux (Wanganui); Thomas Flannagen (West Coast); Paul Williams (Taranaki); Mark Dempster, Andrew Dempster (North Harbour); David Penfold, Grant Edwards, Chris Leslie, David Grundy (Canterbury A); Nigel Strawbridge, Mike Gaffa (Nelson); Mark Gowans (Canterbury B); Shane McLeod (Waikato); Nigel Nairn, Richard Redfern, Greg Russ (Auckland B).