Japanese Women’s hockey team to continue their New Zealand Series – Hockey News
After the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11, it was expected to affect the ongoing five test series of the New Zealand Women’s hockey team against Japan in New Zealand.
However, the Japanese team has decided to continue with the series after making sure that their families have not been harmed back home due to the natural calamity.
Both teams have decided to continue with the five test series and meeting and looking at the various options available. It was hoped that the disaster would not affect the series and that the Japanese players would continue their brilliant performance.
The Japanese team managers introduced the fact that it has been assured that the families of their team members have not been influenced and they are willing to continue with the series.
Ms. King stated that the New Zealand Hockey Federation has come to a decision to keep a regular follow-up with Japan’s team and has offered their support if necessary.
The Japanese Women are here to play a test series of five matches against New Zealand and with the decision to continue, they will be looking to put in a tremendous effort. The series still has four more matches to go and currently Japan is leading the series
1-0.
This opening match of the series was an eye-opener for the New Zealand Women because they were defeated from a team that stands two seeds below in rank as compared to them. The struggle was found to be on New Zealand’s part for ball possession while the
field was evidently dominated by the Japanese throughout the match.
Japan scored two goals in the first test that were delivered by Misato Katherine in the 34th minute and Ai Murakami in the 55th minute of the match, closing the score at an undefeated 2-0.
The reason for failure of New Zealand as stated by their coach Mark Hager was that they went short with three of their best veteran players currently playing in club squad matches in Europe and a feeble decision for inducting new players who played their
international debut in the first test of the series.
However, this explanation was not up to mark because, if seen, Japan’s Women’s hockey team is also in their rebuilding stage having only three veterans with a current record of more than 100 international caps that are playing in this series against New
Zealand. These players are Miyuki Nakagawa, Yukari Yamamoto and the team captain Rika Komazawa, being the senior most among all.
The second test is to take place in Hamilton at the Gallagher Hockey Centre on March 13 followed by the other tests as formerly scheduled by the organising body.
Tags: