Black Sticks’ co-captains Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor playing abroad: Hockey News
Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor, both the skippers of the Black Sticks’ women squad are playing hockey aboard in their respective clubs. Naylor is donning the colours in Holland while Sharland is playing hockey in the neighbouring country, Australia.
Sharland, who has had more than 100 international caps in her credit, displayed impressive performances during her visit to Adelaide representing South Australian Team. She was part of the squad in the last three matches in which they thrashed Northern Territory
by 6-0, overpowered Queensland at 3-2 and edged past Western Australia by a single goal, 4-3. The latter two teams generally defeats South Australian side, which was not practised this time.
It is vital to mention here that the South Australian side is captained by Melody Rowe, who also hails from New Zealand. Besides these two, Black Sticks’ Clarissa Eshuis is also a part of the South Australian side. The trio of the Black Sticks had assisted
the squad to win all the three games. These matches are introduction of the play-offs that will be organised in Darwin and Melbourne. Sharland, who has recovered from an injury, left for Adelaide after getting two weeks training programme in Auckland.
In the meantime, Emily Naylor will continue her European trip until joins the national side for the Champions Trophy that is due to held in June. She is playing for HGC in The Hague, which has been downgraded after the recent season. However, the return
of Naylor is dubious in the event in the next year.
Wearing shirt number two, Naylor, also has had more than 100 international caps in her credit. She rendered outstanding performances in the recent games, but failed to upgrade the clubs’ status.
The Black Sticks are due to play seven practice matches ahead of the Champions Trophy in which they will face Germany and the Netherlands. It is pertinent to mention here that these two teams are also in the same pool while the Aussies will be in the other
group.
Emily Naylor has been playing with the New Zealand team for the last eight years, but the 25-year-old and can play for a few more years.
The two co-captains will rejoin the national side ahead of the Champions Trophy. Following the Champions Trophy, they will be part of the Black Sticks team that will face Fiji and Australia in the Oceania Cup. It is important to mention here that the Oceania
Cup will decide the fate of the direct berths to the 2012 London Olympics. This event is being organised after every two years to qualify the regional teams for the Olympics and the World Cup.
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