‘A little bit of a lesson’ for NZ

Black Sticks Michaela Curtis & Kristina Bates , Black Sticks Women Vs Australia, Tri Nations Women's International Hockey tournament, Cromwell, New Zealand. 20 May 2018. Photo: Photosport

Any psychological edge the Black Sticks took into their "grudge match" with Australia yesterday disappeared in about a minute.

The visitors took control of game two of the Women’s Tri Nations in Cromwell with an early goal to Jodie Kenny.

She smacked it into the right corner from a penalty corner moments after the home side had been caught napping on defence. That defence was a little flaky the entire game. The Black Sticks are missing about 550 games’ worth of experience at the back and it showed.

Australia took advantage to win 4-1, a scoreline that will jog a few memories. The Black Sticks beat Australia by the same score in the Commonwealth Games gold-medal match on the Gold Coast last month.

New Zealand also lost its opening game, against Japan, 2-1 on Saturday. The Black Sticks have a lot of work ahead to regain their competitive edge, stand-in coach Sean Dancer said.

"Obviously, it is a disappointing result. Australia are a tough team but [yesterday] they gave us a little bit of a lesson on execution and finishing skills."

The final margin could have been higher had it not been for several wonderful saves by goalie Sally Rutherford. She got her boots, gloves and stick in the way an awful lot.

The normally watertight defence lacked composure and the penalty corners started stacking up. But discipline was also a problem for the Black Sticks.

"The speed at which the game is played at now, you certainly cannot afford to play long periods of time without all your players on the field.

"The girls’ attitude and effort is all there. We just need to be a little bit smarter and concentrated a little bit better, especially when we get fatigued and under real stress."

Towering striker Olivia Berry equalised midway through the first period. But she also got on the wrong side of the officials, picking up a green and a yellow card during the fixture.

Rookie Lulu Tuilotolava also incurred a green card for a foul tackle.

New Zealand had its best patch late in the first period. Anita McLaren, Michaela Curtis and Madison Doar all made some superb touches.

But Brooke Peris was on hand to whack in a deflection from a penalty corner to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Lily Brazel and Kalindi Commerford sealed the result with goals in the third and fourth period.

"It is always good to have your senior players there but for us it is also an exciting challenge and it is clear we are not where we need to be at the moment."

The Black Sticks’ next assignment is against Japan tomorrow evening. Australia will be back in action today, against Japan.

Japan scored late through Shihori Oikawa to beat the Black Sticks and will present another stern challenge for the home team.