Black Sticks men earn historic win

The New Zealand men’s hockey team have beaten Australian on home soil for the first time since 1967.

The win came in the third and final test against Australia in the Trans Tasman Trophy showdown at the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland yesterday.

Australia had already wrapped up the series at 2-0 heading into the game but New Zealand still had pride to play for and also the chance to break a 49-year drought.

It took just three minutes for the New Zealand men’s team to open the scoring.

It was Stephen Jenness who registered the goal and it came via a nice pass from Leo Mitaiwells.

Mitai-wells sent the ball int the circle and found Jenness right in front of the goal who helped it avoid the Australian goalkeeper.

For the remainder of the half Australia created plenty of opportunities but the New Zealand defence remained tight with Richard Joyce leading the way in front of the goal.

The third quarter took a similar path but again the score remained 1-0 heading into the final period of play.

Just minutes into the last quarter Sam Lane scored for New Zealand.

It was the Timaru teenager’s

first goal for the Black Sticks and what a time for him to strike.

New Zealand had found themselves in a comfortable position at 2-0 up.

However, that comfort only lasted minutes as Jeremy Haywood responded for Australia to make it 2-1 and set up a tense final 10 minutes of play.

Australia threw plenty at New Zealand in the final stages, which included taking out their goalkeeper and sending another player forward.

An Australian leveller felt inevitable but it didn’t come as a gutsy New Zealand team hung on for victory.

It will be a confidence boosting win for the young team as they look to build for the future.

Hockey New Zealand and Hockey Australia have agreed to run annual Trans Tasman Trophy event for the next four years.

Not surprisingly captain Nick Haig was delighted for what is largely a young group of players. ‘‘I’m really stoked for how the boys went.’’

The series will alternate between countries with New Zealand hosting in 2016 and 2018 and Canberra set as the venue for 2017 and 2019.