Hockey
Festival of Hockey, today from 3.10pm. World League Final, Friday 5.30pm/7.45pm.
The Black Sticks men are in Melbourne today for the last day of the Festival of Hockey. From Friday, all eyes will be on North Harbour Stadium. The culmination of qualifying over two years brings eight of the world's top nine nations to Auckland for the World League Final. There are no easy games. The Black Sticks, ranked sixth on the latest FIH list, meet world No 1 Netherlands first up in Friday's late game after the United States (up two places in the latest rankings to fourth) play the South Koreans (ranked ninth) in the tournament opener. In the other group, England (second), Argentina (third), Germany (seventh) and China (eighth) will do battle. Of the world's top nations, only fifth-ranked Australia are missing, but they will be lying in wait for next year's Commonwealth Games, where England and New Zealand will also be primed to chase the medals. Matches are scheduled for each day, with next Saturday the bonanza, when all eight teams will be in action, with New Zealand to face South Korea in what will be a must-win game.