Ice Blacks enjoy feast of roo stew
A RUTHLESS display by the Ice Blacks against the Australian Mighty Roos last night clinched the transtasman series for the Kiwi team, a 61 victor in Queenstown.
Fresh from a strong performance in game one of the threematch series on Thursday night, the Kiwis came out firing on all cylinders and took the lead as a superb pass across goal from Alex Polozov allowed Matthew Schneider to tap it in inside the opening two minutes.
The home team doubled its lead halfway through the first period, after a longrange effort from Ice Black Callum Burns was parried into the path of Polozov, who gleefully slotted it into the back of the net.
Both sides squandered opportunities to take advantage of power plays and while the Roos pushed hard, they went into the first break having failed to trouble the scorers.
It was more of the same in the second period as things went from bad to worse for the Roos.
Schneider and Polozov combined again not long after the break to increase the lead to three.
Goals four and five followed soon after thanks to a wonderful solo effort from Dale Harrop and an easy tapin for Jordan Challis.
The Roos then had a goal disallowed due to an intentional deflection late in the period to further rub salt into the already gaping wounds.
Aussie skipper Lliam Webster got one back at the beginning of the final period, but it was a case of too little too late for the Roos.
A final late goal from Chris Eaden restored the Ice Blacks’ fivegoal advantage and wrapped up a stunning series victory that was greatly appreciated by the crowd.
Tonight’s third and final game will be a dead rubber, although the Kiwis will be looking for a clean sweep against their biggest rival to gain significant transtasman bragging rights.