Hockey chance

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 44

Hockey chance

NZPA Perth New Zealand, the reigning Olympic champions, has the chance today to prove to the hockey world that it is not a spent force when it plays Pakistan in the world hockey tournament at Perth. Since Montreal in '1976, when New Zealand brought the stocks of the world’s leading hockey nation tumbling down, it has had little success in its limited international matches.

Because of financial considerations New Zealand was absent from the World Cup in Argentina last year and the present tournament is only New Zealand’s second since the Montreal Olympics.

The other was the champion trophy in Lahore last November when it recorded only one win, against a second-string Spanish team. Before this New Zealand had gone through a fourhest series against Australia without a victory, scoring only five goals and conceding 14. New Zealand looked to

have little chance in thi> tournament after a 2-1 defeat by Britain am struggling for a 31 win ova Malaysia, a side which ha: failed to gain a win at thu tournament.

But on Tuesday, as .« often happens for no appar ent reason, it all earn: together for New Zealand ai it decinrated Kenya 8-2. The catalyst of the roviva was 2 6-y a a r-o 1 < schoolteacher, Arthui Parkin, a veteran of bott sweet and sour times fo; New Zealand.

“Park,” as he is referred to by the rest of the team was magic — if he was not back defending he was busy building another raid on ths Kenyan goal. The rest of the NeU Zealand team fbUlowed his example, penning Into position with « welWtiHed regularity and picking up the short, accurate ptMed in thei# stride.

Today’s matches are, Canada v. India, Australia Netherlands, New Zealand Pafcistan, and Brlthrt vy Kenya,