Sharland’s return boost for NZ before clash with USA
by Steve Holloway The New Zealand women’s hockey team will be boosted by the return of captain Kayla Sharland when they take on the United States in their final group match of the Four Nations tournament in Whangarei today.
After a self- imposed break from international hockey, the 176- cap international flew in from Christchurch to play for the Black Sticks for the first time since the London Olympics.
The Black Sticks impressed with a win over Olympic silver medallists Argentina on Thursday night after suffering an opening loss to Korea and will be further bolstered by a fully recharged and energetic Sharland.
The 26- year- old had always planned to return to the international scene but felt now was the right time, with the qualification series for next year’s World Cup looming in June.
‘‘ I did enjoy my time off but I’m at the stage now where I’m ready to get back into it,’’ she said.
‘‘ Probably a couple of months ago I wasn’t, but I think for me personally the timing was spot on.
‘‘ I wouldn’t want to be going back into it if I wasn’t excited, so I’m ready to give it my best shot. It might not be pretty but I’m hoping I can do something to help out.’’
Sharland missed the first two games of the series because of work commitments but is fighting fit for today’s game.
‘‘ I’m feeling the best I have ever felt since I did my ACL in 2006, so that’s positive and reinforced how I probably needed that break to refresh and get my body right.’’
A win for the Black Sticks will lock up a spot for them in the final tomorrow but Sharland is wary of the USA threat. ‘‘ The USA are a strong side. They’ve had a few changes but still have a core group of good players who were at London. They also have a new coach so may have a new struc- ture. I will be watching a lot of video . . . before [ the] game.’’
There have been a lot of changes to the Black Sticks since Sharland last played but she met most of the new faces at an induction camp before the team flew to Argentina in February.
‘‘ I wouldn’t say I know them all really well but I’ve met most of them by now,’’ she said.
National selectors are using the Four Nations tournament as an opportunity to test New Zealand’s best young talent against some of the top international sides in the world.
And those who impress will book a spot on the plane to Rotterdam in June, where the Black Sticks will play in the FIH World League semifinal, which is the new qualification event for the 2014 World Cup.