Taranaki trio selected for Central hockey squad
They might have gone to the trials for the experience, but a trio of young Taranaki hockey players have been selected to represent the Central Mysticks in the National Hockey League.
Striking duo Holly Pearson and Hope Ralph will line up for the Central women’s side for the sixgame league in Wellington in September, while defensive midfielder Anna Crowley was named as the non-travelling reserve.
‘‘There were quite a lot of strong players, like ex-Black Sticks, in all of our positions - so I thought I was just going to be there for the experience of being able to trial,’’ Crowley said.
Crowley, 17, will get to play in the six-match NHL, which is held at Wellington’s National Hockey Stadium from September 16-24, if another player in the squad is unable reason.
‘‘I didn’t expect I’d get into the squad. When I got told I was the non-travelling reserve I wasn’t really gutted, I was more surprised to play for whatever to be named in the first place.’’
The trio attended a trial in late July, after their under-18 team went unbeaten at the national age group tournament earlier that month.
‘‘We had to finish with under18s before we were allowed to trial of NHL, and we had to be selected to trial,’’ Ralph said.
Player eligibility rules at the national level say an individual can only play for any two of under18s, under-21s and NHL.
It will be their first time representing Central at the top level, and they admitted the nerves were starting to creep in.
The team had a warm-up match over the weekend, with Pearson, 18, and Ralph, 17, realising exactly how high a level they were playing when they were up front with 213-cap Black Stick Kayla Whitelock playing in behind them.
While the step up is likely to be a more physical one, Pearson and Ralph played in the local men’s premier league throughout this season and got a feel for more physical play.
‘‘They didn’t go easy,’’ Pearson said. ‘‘It was good, you can give them a shove back if they shove you...it’s a different kind of game.
‘‘From playing the warm-up in the weekend, I reckon that was more fast and physical than the men’s league in Taranaki.’’
With all three having been through Sacred Heart Girls’ College, with Crowley and Ralph currently in year 13, they said coach Karla Ralph had played a big part in getting them to where they are.
The trio have a lot of local support coming in many forms, from CMK accountants, strength and conditioning coach Chris Luke, and David and Jamie Stones - who allow them to train with the New Plymouth Boys’ High School squad.
‘‘Normally by the time they get to this stage, they’ve had to move away,’’ Taranaki Hockey executive officer Denise Hill said.
‘‘We’ve got high hopes for these girls, but the big thing for us is that they’re all here.’’ Ben Smith has never been one to give much away.
He probably reacted the same way to finding out he was playing his first game for Dunedin club Green Island as he did when he first made the All Blacks in 2009.
So it was no surprise when the 31-year-old All Blacks vice-captain didn’t show any emotion when discussing his final test match before he utilises the sabbatical clause in his contract.
Instead, the former King’s High School pupil sat in front of media in Dunedin on Tuesday with a steely focus, and maintained the only thing on his mind was helping the All Blacks clinch the Bledisloe Cup by beating the Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
‘‘I’m going to think about that [sabbatical] after Saturday. For this week I just want to make sure I’m preparing really well,’’ Smith said when asked about his looming break.
When referee Nigel Owens blows fulltime at about 9.20pm on Saturday night, Smith, whether he is celebrating the All Blacks locking up the Bledisloe Cup for a 15th consecutive year or not, will trod off the paddock knowing he won’t play again until February (Super Rugby).
The 63-cap All Black will become the third All Black, after Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, to take a sabbatical, and will miss the last eight test matches of the year
The start of Smith’s sabbatical will effectively end a rotten year.
It’s not that the most capped Highlander (129) of all time has played badly, he just hasn’t played a heck of a lot.
A couple of concussions and a tight hamstring limited him during Super Rugby, before an ear infection knocked him out of the majority of the test series against the British and Irish Lions.
The ear issue was originally thought to be his sixth concussion in the past five years, leading to speculation he could pull the pin on his career.
But Smith said he now feels ‘‘really good’’, and his plan is to freshen up by spending time with his wife and two young children, before targeting the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
The All Blacks aren’t short of options at fullback - Israel Dagg, Damian McKenzie and rookie David Havili should all get chances to impress in his absence, to name three - but will no doubt miss Smith’s calmness under the high ball, knack for making the right decision and his ability to carve teams open with his 91kg frame.
They will also lose their vicecaptain, and whether or not the All Blacks will name an interim vicecaptain in his absence would be discussed after Saturday, All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster said.
‘‘I’m sure we will have a look at that,’’ Foster said.
‘‘For Ben and this team it’s all about the team, it’s all about this Saturday and that’s how we try to work it. But once he goes, obviously there will be a bit of a hole there and we will figure that out.’’