Black Sticks vs Japan test series

International Women’s Hockey, February 2006

MEDIA PACK

Black Sticks

VS

Japan

TEAM LISTS

A Black Sticks Squad of 20 players are centralised in Christchurch from January 9 – February 24. The full squad of 20 will play in the first three tests against Japan. These matches will act as trial matches for Commonwealth Games selection. It is planned that the reduced squad of 16 players to contest at the Commonwealth Games will be named on February 20, the day after the third test.

BLACK STICKS

# Player Name NHL Team Age Caps Position

1 Kayla Sharland Central 20 65 Striker
2 Emily Naylor Central 20 48 Defender
3 Krystal Forgesson Auckland 23 8 Striker
5 Kate Saunders Auckland 23 8 Defender
6 Meredith Orr Canterbury 27 82 Midfielder
8 Jaimee Provan North Harbour 28 104 Striker
9 Honor Dillon Canterbury 23 24 Striker
10 Lizzy Igasan North Harbour 23 79 Defender
11 Stacey Carr Canterbury 21 53 Midfielder
14 Suzie Muirhead Wellington 30 225 Midfielder
15 Beth Jurgeleit Wellington 25 26 Goalkeeper
16 Clarissa Eshuis Canterbury 19 12 Defender
18 Diana Weavers Midlands 30 159 Defender
19 Jane Maley Canterbury 25 15 Midfielder
20 Frances Kreft Auckland 20 22 Midfielder
21 Niniwa Roberts Wellington 29 104 Striker
25 Kate Mahon North Harbour 22 5 Defender
26 Anita Wawatai Manawatu 25 18 Goalkeeper
28 Charlotte Harrison Northland 16 3 Striker
29 Michelle Hollands Canterbury 31 86 Midfielder

Coach: Ian Rutledge
Manager: Kay Noakes
Physiotherapist: Fiona O’Connor
Video Analyst: Paul Derham

JAPAN

At time of printing we had only received a team list and no player details. This information will be emailed to you ASAP.

Akemi Kato
Rie Terazono
Ikuko Okamura
Yukari Yamamoto
Mayumi Ono
Tosie Tsukui
Hiromi Hashimoto
Chie Akutu
Sachimi Iwao
Miyuki Nakagawa
Chie Kimura
Mika Iimura
Sakae Morimoto
Kaori Chiba
Tomomi Komori
Rika Komazawa
Misaki Ozawa

Director: Mr. Masashi Onda
Coach: Mr.Akiyoshi Yoshioka
Coach: Mr. John Sehahan
Trainner: Mr. Kei Sakatsume

MATCH SCHEDULE

1st Test Thursday 16 Feb 7.00pm Porritt Park, Christchurch

2nd Test Saturday 18 Feb 2.00pm Porritt Park, Christchurch

3rd Test Sunday 19 Feb 5.00pm Porritt Park, Christchurch

4th Test Tuesday 21 Feb 6.00pm Derlen Bakery Park,
Ashburton

5th Test Thursday 23 Feb 7.00pm Porritt Park, Christchurch

VENUES

Christchurch Porritt Park
Avonside Drive
Wainoni
Chrischurch

Ashburton Derlen Bakery Park
Walnut Ave
Ashburton

ITINENARY

Please note that the Black Sticks are currently centralised in Christchurch. Therefore they will come into camp the day of the first test.

Mon 13 Feb Japan Arrive in Christchurch
Training times
Black Sticks 3.00pm – 5.00pm Porritt Park

Tue 14 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 8.00am – 10.00am Porritt Park

Japan 4.00pm – 6.00pm Porritt Park 1

Wed 15 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 4.00pm – 6.00pm Porritt Park

Japan 3.00pm – 6.00pm Porritt Park 2

Thu 16 Feb Black Sticks into Camp

Training times
Japan 10.00am – 12.00pm Porritt Park 1

Test 1, 7.00pm Porritt Park

Fri 17 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 8.00am – 10.00am Porritt Park

Japan 2.00pm – 5.00pm Porritt Park 2

Sat 18 Feb Training times
Japan 9.00am – 11.00am Porritt Park 2

Test 2, 2.00pm Porritt Park

Sun 19 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 10.00am – 11.00am Porritt Park

Japan 7.00am – 9.00am Porritt Park 1

Test 3, 5.00pm Porritt Park

Mon 20 Feb Black Sticks Team named for Commonwealth Games

Black Sticks travel to Ashburton

Training times
Black Sticks 5.00pm – 6.00pm Ashburton

Tue 21 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 10.00am – 11.00am Ashburton

Japan 10.00am – 12.00pm Porritt Park 1

Test 4, 6.00pm Ashburton

Wed 22 Feb Black Sticks travel to Christchurch

Training times
Japan 4.00pm – 6.00pm Porritt Park 2

Thu 23 Feb Training times
Black Sticks 9.00am – 10.00am Porritt Park

Japan 10.00am – 12.00pm Porritt Park 1

Test 5, 7.00pm Porritt Park

Fri 24 Feb Black Sticks Disbands

Training times
Japan 10.00am – 12.00pm Porritt Park

Sat 25 Feb Japan v Canterbury XI 2.30pm Porritt Park 1

Sun 23 Feb Japan Team Departs

TEST MATCH OFFICIALS

1st Test Match:

Technical Director Helen Napier

Umpires Tracy Wrigley
Melanie Sowter
Annie Rodgers (Reserve)

2nd Test Match:

Technical Director Helen Napier

Umpires Tracy Wrigley
Kelly Hudson
Sarah Garnett (Reserve)

3rd Test Match:

Technical Director Helen Napier

Umpires Sarah Garnett
Kelly Hudson
Melanie Sowter (Reserve)

4th Test Match:

Technical Director Helen Napier

Umpires Sarah Garnett
Melanie Sowter
Annie Rodgers (Reserve)

5th Test Match:

Technical Director Helen Napier

Umpires Melanie Sowter
Kelly Hudson
Sarah Garnett (Reserve)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BLACK STICKS

KAYLA SHARLAND
The 20-year-old was a World Hockey Young Player of the Year nominee last year. Sharland has been known mainly as a striker but has recently also been introduced to the New Zealand midfield where her pace and skill should set her apart in the future. Sharland is also working hard on adding another weapon to her game. She has been targeted as a potential drag flick weapon for the future.

LIZZY IGASAN
Igasan was a World Hockey Player of the Year nominee in 2005 and has been New Zealand Women’s Hockey Player of the Year for the last two consecutive seasons. Known for her distribution, courage and strong tackling skills, Igasan is also a strong leader within the side. She is also a powerful hitter of the ball and an integral part of New Zealand’s attacking penalty corner battery.

ANITA WAWATAI/BETH JURGELEIT
The two 25-year-olds share the side’s goalkeeping duties and each will be looking to impress during the Japan series to win the top position going into the Commonwealth Games. Jurgeleit (Wellington) is slightly more experienced than Wawatai (Central) who has played 18 games for New Zealand.

EMILY NAYLOR
Naylor (20) will play her 50th international during the Japan series. Naylor has established herself as one of the team’s most consistent performers since her introduction to the side in early 2004. Skillful and composed, Naylor is also adaptable with the ability to play both in the half line, midfield and in deep defence.

DI WEAVERS
Weavers return to her home ground will be welcomed by her legions of Canterbury fans. Now based in Maketu in the North Island, Weavers is looking forward to a strong 2006 after spending most of 2005 out of hockey with a hip injury. Weavers (vice-captain), is vastly experienced (159 caps), and one of only three players left in the side who played at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

JAPAN
SAEKE MORIMOTO
Now one of the senior members in the Japanese side, Morimoto made her mark last time she played in New Zealand by finishing top goal scorer at the March 2004 Olympic Qualifying tournament in Auckland. Morimoto scored seven goals.

KATO AKEMI
Vastly experienced with around 250 games for Japan. Akemi’s knowledge is invaluable to her team.

SACHIMI IWAO
A vital cog in the Japanese midfield. Iwao is rarely dispossessed and should feature in many of Japan’s attacking moves.

Up and Comers
Misaki Ozawa and Chie Akutu debuted for Japan at the 2005 Champions Challenge. Both are players to watch for the future.

WORLD RANKINGS:
New Zealand 6th
Japan 8th

BLACK STICKS vs. JAPAN

Last Meeting

The two sides last met at the Champions Challenge Tournament in Virginia Beach in July 2005. New Zealand won 2-1.

Head to Head

NZ and Japan have played 13 times since 2000. NZ has won six matches and lost seven.

Recent Results New Zealand v Japan 2000 – 2005

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT, VIRGINIA BEACH, JULY 2005
NZ 2 Japan 1 Win

XXVIII OLYMPIC GAMES, ATHENS, GREECE, AUGUST 2004
NZ 0 Japan 2 Loss

ANZ WOMEN’S CHALLENGE, DARWIN & TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA, JUNE 2004
NZ 3 Japan 1 Win
NZ 1 Japan 2 Loss

3 NATION TOURNAMENT, GIFU, JAPAN, SEPTEMBER 2003
NZ 2 Japan 4 Loss
NZ 1 Japan 2 Loss

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT, CATANIA, ITALY, JULY 2003
NZ 1 Japan 2 Loss
NZ 1 Japan 2 Loss

OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT, MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND, MARCH/APRIL 2000
NZ 0 Japan 4 Loss

JAPAN SERIES, NEW ZEALAND, FEBRUARY 2000
NZ 1 Japan 0 Win
NZ 3 Japan 0 Win
NZ 2 Japan 1 Win
NZ 2 Japan 1 Win

Build up to Series – 2004 form

Japan

EAST ASIAN GAMES, OCTOBER 05, MACAU
Japan 2 Korea 1 Win
Japan 3 China 1 Win
Japan 10 Hong Kong 1 Win

CHINA SERIES, AUGUST 05
Japan 0 China 1 Loss
Japan 1 China 3 Loss
Japan 2 China 1 Win
Japan 2 China 0 Win

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE, VIRIGINA BEACH, JULY 05
Japan 2 Spain 5 Loss
Japan 4 England 0 Win
Japan 3 USA 1 Win
Japan 1 S Africa 2 Loss
Japan 1 NZ 2 Loss
Japan 2 England 1 Win

New Zealand

INDIRA GANDHI TOURNAMENT OCTOBER 05
New Zealand 0 Australia 0 Draw
New Zealand 2 Italy 1 Win
New Zealand 1 India 2 Loss
New Zealand 4 Malaysia 2 Win
New Zealand 1 Italy 2 Loss

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE, VIRIGINA BEACH, AUGUST 05
New Zealand 1 England 1 Draw
New Zealand 2 USA 1 Win
New Zealand 3 Spain 0 Win
New Zealand 0 South Africa 1 Loss
New Zealand 2 Japan 1 Win
New Zealand 2 South Africa 0 Win

USA SERIES MAY 05 NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand 5 USA 0 Win
New Zealand 1 USA 0 Win
New Zealand 2 USA 0 Win
New Zealand 3 USA 1 Win
New Zealand 0 USA 1 Loss

ENDS

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