Black Sticks men still winless

The Black Sticks men are still searching for their first Pro League win with six of their seven home games done and dusted.

Argentina were the latest team to prove tot strong for them, winning 2-1 at North Harbour Hockey Stadium in Auckland yesterday.

The Argentine women also proved too strong for their Black Sticks counterparts, winning 3-0 later in the day to expand the gap between the two teams, who sit fourth and fifth on the ladder.

Martin Ferreiro opened the scoring six minutes into the second quarter for the Argentine men, pouncing on the ball when David Brydon failed to trap it cleanly in front of goal and firing a shot past Black Sticks goalkeeper George Enersen.

That goal mean the visitors went into the sheds in front at halftime, though there was little separating the two teams elsewhere on the stat sheet.

Stephen Jenness blew an excellent chance to level the scores minutes into the third quarter, turning a cross from Kane Russell on the right wide of goal from dead in front.

Argentina had been happy soaking up pressure after going in front and doubled their lead three minutes into the fourth quarter, winning a penalty corner on the counter which Maico Casella slammed home.

Kane Russell pulled one back for the Black Sticks with a powerful strike at a penalty corner midway through the period, but they couldn’t find a second, despite playing with a two-man advantage for the final two minutes.

The Black Sticks women had the chance to move into the top four with a win yesterday, but couldn’t create anywhere near as many chances as their conquerors, who scored in the first, second and third quarters.