MEN
Hutt United vs Dalefield
National Hockey Stadium 2.30pm
Illness and injury continue to impact on Dalefield as they near the business end of the Wellington Premier Men’s Championship.
With only three rounds before the playoffs Dalefield are second equal with Harbour City on 14 points, nine behind today’s opponents Hutt United who are unbeaten in the competition and almost assured of top seeding for the playoffs.
A win over Hutt could prove vital in the race for second place and two lives in the playoffs, but Dalefield’s prospects have dimmed slightly with the unavailability of Black Stick international Dane Lett with illness, and the absence of experienced striker Rowan Yeo, while Zac Hardie is on the extremely doubtful list after suffering a lower leg injury when taken out in a nasty clash with Victoria goalkeeper Max Ruffle last Saturday.
“We’ve still got a very solid core,”, van Woerkom said, “we’ll still have me, Nathan Whiteman and Ben Schwass in the midfield and Dan van Woerkom, Graeme Murrell, Jayan Parbhu and Cody Linton at the back.
“The guys are going to have to step up and work a bit harder. It’s still a useful side, but the attack will be below strength.”
Van Woerkom expects to face a well-structured and well-organised Hutt United, but remains confident of picking up some points over their bitter rivals.
Dalefield have beaten Hutt this season, winning their Intercity semifinal but were beaten 5-3 when the teams clashed at Clareville in the Wellington championship.
WOMEN
Toa vs Dalefield
Elsdon Park, Porirua 2.15pm
A win over Toa this afternoon is vital for Farriers Dalefield in their push for a place in next month’s Wellington Premier Women’s Championship final.
Northern United lead on 27 points, Dalefield are second on 21, five clear of Hutt United, with Harbour City another point behind, and a win would keep up the pressure on the chasers, with the top two teams to progress to the final.
However, like their male clubmates, illness could impact on the make-up of the side, with Felicity Reidy, Pippa Raleigh, and Katie McAnulty all on the doubtful list.
Usually Toa would pose little threat to Dalefield, but co-coach Mike O’Connor said the Porirua-based team are a different proposition with Black Stick Riana Pho in their ranks and a new coaching set-up.
“To me they’re the most improved team of the seven teams,” O’Connor said.
“I watched them against Northern and they only lost 4-2 which was a pretty good score against them so it’s going to be a tough game, and it won’t be easy.
“They’ve got a pretty good game plan and it should be a good game because they play a nice open game and a good passing game and that’s what we are trying to do.”
Dalefield are coming off a 9-1 thumping of Victoria, but O’Connor is reading little into that result saying his players need to tidy up their passing, get the ball moving and if they do that they should walk off with the win.
