Derwent plays it safe
DERWENT is taking a cautious approach with some key personnel a month out from the men’s Premier League hockey finals series with a toptwo position assured.
Stuart Webb, Vaughn Bowen and Hugh Flassman will all miss today’s 4.30pm clash with defending champion OHA, while Josh Mardell will be eased back after a knee injury.
The Ships, meanwhile, are fighting to keep their hopes of a record-breaking fifth consecutive title alive but have been bolstered by the return to full fitness of defender James Thomas.
“We’re still exploring different positions at times in games or to start quarters because the group has so much flexibility, we’re determining our needs depending upon who our opposition is each week,” Derwent assistant coach John Harris said.
“We weren’t able to benefit from our scoring attempts last time in a 4-1 loss to OHA and they were able to get in between our defensive structure and opened us up, which we failed to handle.
“To win this weekend we’ll need goalkeeper Magnus McCausland to be one of the most influential players on the ground because last time OHA’s keeper did the job and was the difference.”
OHA coach Nick Leslie says the return of Thomas is critical for his side and offsets the absence of Kurt Mackey.
“Kurt is being cautious with his leg and we’re not taking any risks with him, but these remaining games are enormously important, so we need to get our best players on the field,” Leslie said.
“James [Thomas] is in hot flicking form, so it’s great to have him back and hopefully we will be able to give him plenty of bites at Derwent’s penalty corner defence so he can do some damage.”
Canterbury and NorthWest Graduates start at 1.30pm, while DiamondBacks and University meet from 3pm. OHA women’s coach Sam McCambridge has labelled tonight’s 6pm clash against Derwent as a “finals warm-up” and announced the shock return of star Sofie McLeod to bolster the Ships’ line-up.
Despite sitting out the Premier League season so far with OHA citing “other goals she wants to achieve” back in March, the return of McLeod is a possible premiership game-changer for OHA.
“It’s been great to have Sofie back around the group with her experience and skills brining so much to the team,” McCambridge said.
“It’s a big game and finishing top would be great, but the premiership is our goal and outcomes in the attacking circle while preventing them running at our deep defence are key focus areas for us. We have plenty of self-belief going into finals so even if we lost, it doesn’t mean too much in the scheme of the season and we’re just focusing on being ready for finals.”
Derwent sits equal on points with OHA and has some big names returning itself in Eliza Westland and Julia Reid. “We’re injury-free so let’s hope it stays that way and with a full squad we just want to fine-tune a few things and build momentum into the finals,” Derwent coach Torin Bester said.
“We must prevent their midfield time to carry the ball because they destroyed us last time as they penetrated our defence with not nearly enough pressure.
“The girls have some real fire in their bellies and the way OHA beat them last time really hurt.
“So we will be looking to make amends and put in a smart and aggressive performance.”
Canterbury can keep its remote finals hopes alive with an upset victory against North-West Graduates from 3pm, while a win against University at 4.30pm would consolidate finals for DiamondBacks.