Hockey: Triggs keeps the youngsters at bay

BARRY DANCER, England's Australian coach, is using next month's tour to Argentina to introduce three uncapped players. His selection, which includes the highly experienced Julian Halls and Russell Garcia, also gives an early opportunity to the Canterbury goalkeeper Simon Triggs, and 21-year-olds Tom Bertram and George Cover to stake a claim for selection for the Champions Trophy in Australia in June and the European Cup in September.

The 28-year-old Triggs, after a string of impressive club performances, has been named ahead of the much younger Nick Taylor, currently with the Harvestehuder club in Germany, and Teddington's Jon Ebsworth, England's junior World Cup goalkeepers.

Cover, essentially a right sided striker in the Sean Kerly mould, is an imaginative choice with a distinct view to the future while Bertram is a defender of promise.

The inclusion of penalty corner specialist Calum Giles is a surprise choice, although there must still be a considerable doubt as to whether he will step on to the plane. Giles has not resumed full training since a knee operation just before Christmas and will have to prove his fitness. If he goes he will need to do much more than score goals at penalty corners.

Because of the new substitute rules which were introduced after the World Cup last June, he can no longer be rolled on at the set-piece where in the past he has scored 52 goals in 53 appearances.

ENGLAND SQUAD (Argentina tour, 22 March - 6 April): B Waugh (capt), C Giles, D Woods (Southgate ), B Barnes, M Pearn (Reading), G Cover (Havant), D Hall (Guildford), J Halls, J Lewis, B Sharpe, M Johnson (Cannock), S Triggs (Canterbury), B Garrard, J Wallis (Teddington), R Garcia ( Harvestehuder), T Bertram (Bournville).

n WOMEN'S EH CUP Quarter-finals: Chelmsford v Bradford; Fyffes Leicester v Clifton Scottish Life; Hightown v Olton Terraquest; Slough v Doncaster. (Ties to be played on Sunday 28 March)