Black Sticks smashed by Aussies
Australia 5 Men’s Black Sticks 1 The New Zealand men’s hockey team’s search for an opening win continues in the Pro League, after suffering a 5-1 defeat to Australia in Sydney yesterday.
The Black Sticks remain bottom of the Pro League table while Australia jumped to the top with their fifth win in seven games. With six of their final seven games on the road, it looks a tall order for the Black Sticks to move into the top four.
New Zealand kept the home side at bay for most of the opening quarter with an aggressive style which denied Australia any shots on goal, until three minutes remaining, when they scored on repeat visits down the Black Sticks’ end.
Australia took the lead from a wellcrafted goal set up by a darting run from Jake Whetton into the attacking circle before delivering a slick pass to Tom Wickham who finished to score.
A minute later, it was 2-0 when Jeremy Hayward delivered from an Australian penalty corner with a drag flick that powered past the left of New Zealand goalkeeper Richard Joyce. The first quarter scoring didn’t finish there with New Zealand hitting back when Hayden Phillips pounced on a penalty corner rebound.
Unfortunately for the Black Sticks that was their only goal of the game, while Australia increased their lead in the second quarter.
Jack Welsh made it 3-1 when he was left unmarked in the attacking circle before Wickham added a second shortly after halftime. Some poor defence saw Australia make it five as Shea McAleese gave up the ball deep inside his own half and Daniel Beale turned the turnover into against goal.
“We came out and tried to be aggressive early on and the Aussies run over us a bit in the first half,” New Zealand captain Arun Panchia said. “We tried something different - but it’s just unfortunate.”
New Zealand head to Argentina next month ahead of their final home game against Australia, before finishing the tournament with five games in Europe.