Both the men’s and women’s Black Sticks lost to Australia in their respective games in Christchurch yesterday.
In the first game of the day the men fell to Australia 4-2. But it was a gutsy performance with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
The Kookaburras opened the scoring early, with Jack Welch found waiting by the post to deflect in a long pass from outside the circle which should have been better defended.
New Zealand struck back almost instantly when Simon Child pickpocketed Lachlan Sharp at the top of the circle to take him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Child’s shot was well saved by Johan Durst, but Kim Kingstone was on hand to smash in the equaliser.
Australia put itself back in front early in the second quarter, while the Kiwis were a man down, through a fast paced counter-attack with Ky Willott taking the honours at the end of a superb move.
The Kookaburras came out stronger in the second half and looked to stamp their mark on the game. They won another penalty corner, with Joel Rintala, the Black Sticks tormentor in the first match, once again providing a goal.
The Black Sticks showed resolve to keep on pushing, eventually winning a penalty corner, and subsequent penalty stroke for a body on the line, on the quarter buzzer.
Child stepped up to convert the stroke, taking him another goal closer to Phil Burrows’ New Zealand goal-scoring record.
The Kookaburras were tidier in the fourth quarter, and scored their fourth goal in somewhat controversial circumstances as Australia fouled and injured a New Zealand player to take the ball and score off a resulting opportunity.
In the second game of the day, the Black Sticks women coughed up the lead again after leading 1-0 at halftime to fall to the Hockeyroos 2-1.
It was a back and forth first half but it was the hosts that broke the deadlock late in the quarter with a beautiful team goal.
Midfield maestro Katie Doar threaded the needle to find Hannah Cotter, who in turn threaded the needle to find New Zealand’s leading goal scorer, Olivia Merry, free in the circle to add to her tally.
The Black Sticks held Australia at bay until the final minute of the third quarter, when they conceded a penalty corner, resulting in Courtney Schonell levelling for the visitors.
Australia took momentum from that goal and barely gave the hosts a sniff at goal in the fourth quarter, eventually doubling its lead with Schonell scoring the winner.
The Vantage Black Sticks men and women next play in Europe mid-June, where they will take on Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, playing eight games in 12 days.
They will then return to New Zealand for the Oceania Cup in August against Australia. This will be the first opportunity to qualify for Paris 2024.
— Staff reporter
