Shepherd hopes ‘healthy mix’ selection pays dividends

DUNDONIAN GORDON Shepherd, head coach to the Scottish senior women’s hockey squad, has gone for a healthy mix of ‘tried and trusted’ and rising talent to grace the national shirts for the five-test series against South Africa at Titwood in Glasgow, writes our women’s hockey correspondent.

The Springbok visitors will provide the launchpad for Scotland`s build-up towards the first round of the inaugural World League followed by the Champions Challenge in Italy during this summer.

Minus his four GB stars, Shepherd may be blooding several youngsters but can afford to be quietly optimistic considering the wealth of skill and experience of players from national league and cup champions Grove Menzieshill and runners up Milne Craig Clydesdale Western who provide the squad’s backbone.

Named in the Grove seven are captain Linda Clement, along with usual suspects Ali Bell, Kat Cameron, Leigh Fawcett and Ailsa Wylie.

The inclusion of teenagers Nicki Cochrane and Kerry Hall is just reward for helping their team to pick up the top prizes of the season.

Dundee’s other representative comes from VWS Wanderers. A hectic week lies ahead of defender Becky Ward who will be on weekend European duty with her clubmates before jetting back to link up with the Scotland squad.

Shepherd expects South Africa to be in peak condition as they enter the finishing straight of their London 2012 preparations, but Scotland will take the pitch buoyed by holding their own in a 2-2 draw against the world number 12 in last year’s Champions Challenge when two Grove players, the recently retired Louise Baxter, and Mannheim star Nikki Kidd made telling contributions.

Perth-born former internationalist Neil Menzies remains assistant coach.

Linda Clement.