Impressive Netherlands too slick for Black Sticks
Hockey
The Netherlands amply demonstrated how difficult they will be to topple at the women’s World League Final after an emphatic victory over New Zealand on the opening night at North Harbour.
The world No 1 Dutch, European champions and long a major force in the women’s game, thumped the hosts 4-0 to show that although they are in a transition stage, having lost a clutch of quality players after last year’s Rio Olympics, they remain a formidable outfit.
World No 5 New Zealand had their moments, and some chances, but as the game wore on, the Netherlands were too slick, skilful and quick to sense, and seize, an opportunity.
New Zealand’s discipline let them down, three times reduced to 10 players, and that proved costly, but they too have lost several experienced players in the past year, and as determinedly as they played, too often there was a gulf in class on the ball and in finding and using space.
“That’s not how we planned it to go. We lacked a bit of discipline but I don’t think the effort can be faulted,” Black Sticks co-captain Sam Charlton said.
Certainly the likes of attackers Kelsey Smith, Stacey Michelsen and Olivia Merry worked their socks off, while Brooke Neal, Liz Thompson and Charlton were resolute defenders.
“We’re very happy with the result,” Dutch captain Marloes Keetels said. “We had a very high efficiency and I thought we defended very well.”
The pace of the match was frenetic and although New Zealand began promisingly, they were 2-0 down by the end of the first quarter.
Kelly Jonker gathered the ball and spun hard to her left before driving a fine reverse stick shot past goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon. A minute before quarter time, Maartje Krekelaar doubled the lead with a composed finish under pressure after strong lead-up work by classy midfielder Lidewij Welten.
New Zealand couldn’t complain that they didn’t have chances, including half a dozen penalty corners, but weren’t able to cash in.
The Dutch produced a killer blow eight minutes before the end of the third quarter through Frederique Matla and it would have been four but for Neal’s goalline clearance shortly after.
Jonker added her second with a clever deflection in the fourth quarter to round off an ideal start to the tournament for the 2013 winners.
In last night’s first game, the United States and South Korea drew 1-1. Erin Matson’s goal was equalised by Cha Yesol with just two minutes left.
There is a full round of four games today, with pool B starting with Rio Olympic champions England playing Germany and Argentina facing China before New Zealand play the Koreans at 6pm and the US play the Netherlands.
David Leggat