Hockey: Black Sticks down Aussies in Belgium

New Zealand's women have beaten Australia 2-0 to remain top of their group at hockey's World League semifinal tournament in Belgium.

Black Sticks captain Anita Punt scored one second-half goal and set up the other to become New Zealand's all-time record scorer with 78.

Australia captain Madonna Blyth also entered the record books as the Hockeyroos' most capped player, taking the field for the 304th time to surpass former captain and Sydney Olympic gold medallist Nikki Hudson.

Australia entered the game behind New Zealand only on goal difference and now sit three points behind the Group B leaders and ahead of third-placed hosts Belgium on goal difference.

"I thought it was as expected, a really intense and difficult match," Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens said.

"New Zealand played well on the counter, which they do always, and they can go full length of the pitch on their counter.

"We created some really good opportunities and didn't finish them.

"We've been quite effective with our penalty corner attack throughout the tournament and unfortunately that deserted us today.

"But I thought we created more than enough field goal scoring opportunities. We didn't make the most of those opportunities where, at the other end, New Zealand did."

Acknowledging the remarkable achievement of his captain, Commens said: "Madonna's had a wonderful career and you can see by her performances at this tournament that real competitive nature, that ability to win balls, get going quickly and create things.

"She's been the life blood for the Hockeyroos going on now ten or 11 years. She's really led by example."

India, Australia's opponents on Saturday, sit three points further back in fourth place.

New Zealand's last pool game is against Belgium.

A top-three finish at the 10-nation tournament secures automatic entry to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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