Alpiners in action today

Hockey: The inaugural Premier Hockey League gets under way today at the Gallagher Hockey Centre in Hamilton.

The opening match will be played between the North Tridents and the hometown Hauraki Mavericks, while the Southern Alpiners will play the Central Falcons in the late game.

There is a strong Otago influence in the Southern Alpiners, which includes Black Sticks captain Blair Tarrant and the country’s leading striker, Hugo Inglis. They both grew up in Dunedin.