Black Sticks no match for Australian rivals

There was double delight for the Australian hockey teams in their Anzac Day clashes against New Zealand in Auckland.

Australia gained sweet revenge for their loss to New Zealand last month in Sydney, hammering the women’s Black Sticks 5-1 in their FIH Pro League encounter.

And the visitors edged the men’s Black Sticks 4-3 in the second match of the doubleheader.

Australia’s women were clinical at both ends of the North Harbour Stadium turf, easing to a comfortable win.

Grace Stewart bagged a second half brace while Kaitlin Nobbs, who scored in just the second minute of the match, Emily Chalker and Savannah Fitzpatrick also got on the scoresheet for Australia.

New Zealand’s goal came on the stroke of halftime through Deanna Ritchie, who deflected a Katie Doar pass into the net to ensure the hosts would trail by just a goal, 2-1, at the break.

That jubilation was short-lived, though, as Australia started the third quarter the same way they did the first two when they found space in the attacking circle, Fitzpatrick getting a clean shot off to extend their lead.

The Black Sticks continued to battle for no reward and then Stewart put the game beyond doubt win sevens minutes remaining, chipping the ball over Grace O’Hanlon for

her first goal and then finishing the hosts off with a second goal five minutes later.

In the men’s match, the Black Sticks found themselves down 2-0 when Tom Craig and Flynn Ogilvie struck a double blow in the final two minutes of the first quarter.

The Kiwis regrouped in the second quarter and George Muir turned the pressure into a goal when he weaved his way in the circle and popped the ball in past Australia’s goalkeeper.

The Black Sticks drew level early in the second half when Jarred Panchia was left unmarked in the circle and powered home his shot.

The Kookaburras got their one-goal buffer back when late in the third quarter Blake Govers flicked a low hard drag flick into the goal.

Australia extended their lead further when Blake Govers scored his second goal of the match on another low drag flick, reducing Mac Wilcox’s late goal to nothing more than a consolation.