Kirsty Anderson, three goals in win over Karori. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
By Gary Caffell
The form book says Dalefield should have a comfortable win over Indians in their Wellington premier division women’s hockey match at Clareville tomorrow but the reality could be a whole different story.
With several of his current squad unavailable because of injuries, work commitments and prior engagements, Dalefield coach Michael O’Connor has had to call on several of the club’s Wairarapa division one squad to make up the numbers.
“At last count, I think we could have seven or eight regulars missing, it’s not ideal but we’ve just got to handle it the best we can.”
Perhaps the biggest losses for Dalefield will be the Anderson sisters, Kirsty and Jenna, who were both very influential in their team’s impressive 5-1 defeat of Karori last weekend.
Kirsty scored three goals and Jenn one.
And with another of the team’s more potent attackers, Brigette Mossman, almost certainly sidelined with injury, it will be interesting to see what effect all this has on Dalefield’s ability to convert scoring opportunities into goals.
Indians have won just one of their five matches to date and have conceded 21 goals while scoring just nine themselves but their confidence will obviously be boosted by the fact that Dalefield will not be at full strength.
The Dalefield men’s team will have the talented Nick Finlayson back from overseas when they take on Naenae in their Wellington premier division match at Clareville tomorrow.
This will be Dalefield’s first outing for three weeks because of matches being deferred through clashes with age group tourneys.
