GRADUATES BOLSTERED BY HEAVY ARTILLERY
TWO handy recruits will strengthen North West Graduates’ hopes of returning to the top four when they face fourth-placed OHA in men’s Premier League hockey action on Saturday.
Dutchman Casper van Loon (inset) and Victorian Nathan Grace have both recently landed in Hobart and will come into the side, alongside returnee Tyson Bessell.
“Casper is a midfielder who has very sharp skills and he will be great for our younger guys in Premier League and first grade to learn off,” coach Alistair White said.
“Nathan has most recently played with Doncaster Hockey Club and is a midfielder who will end up playing as a striker for us.
“He played a small amount last weekend and showed great experience and ability to hold the ball up front, something we have been missing.”
The additional support will mean playing-coach White can continue his good form by filling spaces between midfield and defence.
“I’m not really that fussed with where I’m playing and have really just been filling the gaps we have had, whether that is as a full-back, half-back or in midfield,’’ he said.
“My extended coaching group has been a help with where they think I should be playing and filling in certain roles depending on who we are missing.”
The Ships leapfrogged Graduates into a finals position with a 3-2 victory against DiamondBacks last weekend and this match looms as a traditional “sixpointer’’, with Graduates arriving in good form according to White.
“We were quite happy with how we played last weekend, although losing James Bourke early in the second quarter was a big loss and really damaged our ability to go forward,” he said.
“We have only conceded one field goal in our last five Premier League games and we’re really happy with that, but we really need to tidy up our PCD (penalty corner defence), which has let us down.”
Second meets third when Canterbury looks to atone for a 3-0 loss to Derwent last weekend and defend second spot on the ladder in the match against University, which starts at noon.
Derwent will face DiamondBacks in a preview of next month’s State Club Cup final from 4.30pm, with Angus Boulton and Liam Grundy looking to continue their goalscoring runs.