Black Sticks Asia Tour Selections

Black Sticks Asia Tour Selections
The Black Sticks women's team has been named for their Asia tour, with players given one last chance to press their claim for Olympic selection. Coach Mark Hager has picked a touring group of 20 for the matches against China and Korea, electing to take two extra athletes than the usual 18 to provide more opportunity for athletes to push for a ticket to London. Auckland's Lucy Talbot has fractured her thumb in training recently and is therefore unavailable for selection. Talbot will be reassessed at a later time, but will still be considered for final selection for London. The Black Sticks play three matches against China from May 29 to June 1, before playing Korea four times between June 3-7. They will then return home before the Olympic team is announced during the week commencing June 11. Black Sticks team for Asia tour: Kayla Sharland, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson, Katie Glynn, Petrea Webster, Sally Rutherford, Ella Gunson, Samantha Charlton, Julia King, Clarissa Eshuis, Bridget Blackwood, Rhiannon Dennison, Samantha Harrison, Cathryn Finlayson, Gemma Flynn, Charlotte Harrison, Melody Cooper, Bianca Russell, Stacey Michelsen, Anita Punt.