Horowhenua
Hockey
Association

 

 

 

26 October 2012

Situation Vacant – Taranaki Hockey Development Officer
Taranaki Hockey is looking for a Development Officer to grow and strengthen the sport throughout the region. Click here to read the job advert.

Two coaching clinics coming up in Nov/Dec
There is an Advanced Youth Coaching Course on 16-18 Nov 2012 in Auckland for coaches working with athletes in U15 and U18 representative grades. Click here for flyer and application form. Closing date for nominations is 9 November.

There is also an Advanced Club Coaching Course on 7-9 Dec 2012 in Napier for coaches working with athletes in the competitive adult and club representative grades. Click here for flyer and application form. Closing date for nominations is 30 November.

ActivePost Open Day next Sunday at Millennium Institute
For those in Auckland, Millennium Institute of Sport and Health (MISH) are having a free family day of sport activity and fun next Sunday 4 November from 10am-2pm. There will be a Small Sticks taster and some of our Black Sticks – including Emily Naylor and Andy Hayward – will be there. Click here for the details.

Black Sticks Women’s goalkeeping camp
Nationally identified goalkeepers will be attending a development camp at North Harbour this weekend.

Amelia Gibson                      Canterbury

Sarah Matthews                   Auckland

Anita Hope                            Midlands

Georgia Barnett                    Central

Liz Gifford                              Southern

Caroline Lancaster              Northland

Huia Arahanga-Doyle         Auckland

Bridgette Allen                      Canterbury

Colin Batch arrives, we farewell Shane McLeod
New Black Sticks Men’s coach Colin Batch starts at Hockey New Zealand this Tuesday.

Shane McLeod’s last day will be on the 7 November, he is moving to Belgium to be with his partner. Shane has worked at Hockey New Zealand since 2006 and has made a huge contribution to the sport during his six years. We wish him all the best with whatever challenges he takes on next. If you would like to send him a message, please email shaneshooter@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing most of you at Hockey Leaders next Sunday 11 November.

Kind regards

Hilary Poole

Chief Executive
Hockey New Zealand

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

23 October 2012

TigerTurf Academy Under-18 Team named

The TigerTurf Academy Under-18 team was named last Thursday following their selection camp. Players have been given an individual training programme and there is a second camp proposed for December. Congratulations to all players named!

Click here for media release and team list.

Upcoming Coaching Courses

There is an upcoming Advanced Small Sticks Coaching Course organised for the 3rd and 4th November 2012, in Christchurch.

This course is specifically aimed at coaches working in the U13 representative grades (Hatch and Collier). Topics covered will include playing formations, core skill development, coaching process and tournament management. Numbers are strictly limited. Applicants must have completed a Hockey NZ Community Coaching Course or be deemed to have suitable coaching experience. Please contact your local association or Regional Development Manager to register. Closing date for nominations is 29 October.

For an information flyer and an application form, please click here.
Kind regards

Hilary Poole

Chief Executive
Hockey New Zealand

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

14 August 2012
Media release

Black Sticks return for Ford National Hockey League action

Twenty six Black Sticks, including eight of the women’s side who created history by making the Olympic semi-finals, will feature in the Ford National Hockey League (NHL) starting on Saturday.

Ten of our Olympians have jetted back from London to make themselves available for their regions as the eight men’s sides’ battle for the Challenge Shield and the eight women’s teams for the K Cup.

Women’s defending champions Auckland look the strongest side heading into this year’s Ford NHL. The Aucklander’s have notched up some convincing warm-up victories and they’ll be bolstered by the return of Olympic stars Katie Glynn and Sam Harrison. With former Black Sticks Jan Rowsell and Honor Carter leading the side and ex Hockeyroo Kate Hollywood, they are certainly one of the favourites on paper.

The home side’s greatest challenge is likely to come from neighbours Midlands who will welcome returning Olympians Cat Finlayson, Sam Charlton and drag flick exponent Clarissa Eshuis alongside Black Sticks goalkeeper Sally Rutherford.

North Harbour will also give the Aucklander’s a run for their money with in-form Olympic goalkeeper Bianca Russell joining fellow Black Sticks Petrea Webster and Rhiannon Dennison in the Harbour side.

Meanwhile the men’s competition looks a lot less clear cut with Auckland, who shared the title with Central last year after the final was called off due to snow, again the top contender.

Keen to claim the title outright this year, Auckland have bolstered their squad with the inclusion of Australian star Brent Livermore, who will join Black Sticks Marcus Child and Arun Panchia.

Midlands, with Olympians Blair Hopping and Scott Deavin (Australia), will keep the Aucklander’s honest as will a young North Harbour side featuring many of the team that won this year’s under-21 national title.

The Ford NHL starts with a doubleheader weekend at eight different venues from Whangarei to Dunedin on Saturday and Sunday. The league finishes with rounds three to seven, semi-finals and finals at Auckland’s Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium from 25 August to 2 September. Both finals are on Sunday 2 September.

10 August 2012

Ford National Hockey League – Less than 10 days to go!

Tickets are on sale through iTicket for the tournament week at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium for the Ford National Hockey League.

Click here to buy tickets – weekly passes available from just $20. (Booking fees apply)

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for all the updates on the Ford National Hockey League, including results and highlights of warm-up matches, interviews with coaches and players, and opportunities to win tickets to the tournament in Auckland.
Ford – VIP concession
Hockey New Zealand wish to advise Associations that if you are looking at purchasing / leasing new vehicles then you are entitled to Ford’s highest level of VIP concession from your local Ford dealer.
The process is easy – staff and major Associations just need to visit a dealership and advise they are with Hockey New Zealand. This will then entitle you to the Hockey New Zealand VIP Concession.

 

Latest from London

Update On The Competition

The Black Sticks Women made history this week by reaching their first ever Olympic semi-final. They played top of Pool A, The Netherlands and gave every inch they could muster to draw 2-2 at the end of extra time, with a penalty shootout that the Dutch world No 1 side won 3-1. The women will now play off in the bronze medal match on Saturday 11 August at 2.20am NZ time on Sky Sport 4. It is the first time that a New Zealand women’s hockey team will play for a medal at an Olympics, so don’t miss the match!

The Black Sticks Men played off for 9^th and 10^th positions against Argentina yesterday NZ time, beating them 3-1 in one of their best played first halves of the tournament. It was also a big game for two players in particular, with Brad Shaw playing his 150th test match for New Zealand and Nick Haig playing his 100th.

Read their latest match reports from our home page under Latest News. For current pool standings on the men’s and women’s points tables, you can check out the home page of our website or check out the FIH website for the full suite of results.
Also check out our website and Black Sticks Facebook galleries for the latest action shots courtesy of Photosport.

Again, thank you so much for your unconditional and hugely appreciated support for our 2012 Olympic campaign.

Go the Black Sticks – Give ‘em Stick!

 

Arrival home
If you wish to welcome the Black Sticks home, those players returning from London arrive into Auckland International Airport on Wednesday 15 August on flight SQ285 at 10.50am.

 

Reminder HNZ Situations Vacant  (2) – Finance Manager and Online Manager
We are now recruiting for the new roles of Finance Manager and Online Manager.
The advertisements for these positions and job descriptions are available at the following links.

Finance Manager
Online Manager

 

National Senior Tournament (24-29 Sep)

Following last week’s reminder the following teams have been confirmed as entered for the 2012 National Senior Men’s and Women’s Tournament in Wellington.

Men’s	Women’s
Canterbury	Canterbury
Hawke’s Bay	Eastern Central
North Harbour	North Harbour
NZDF	NZDF
Southland/Otago	South Canterbury
Taranaki	Southland
Tasman	Taranaki
Tauranga/BOP	Tasman
Wanganui	Tauranga/BOP
Wellington	Wanganui
	Wellington

The format and draw will be finalised and sent out next week.

Reminder – Youth/Summer Pilot Programme

As part of the Whole of Hockey delivery, Hockey New Zealand will pilot a combined Youth and Summer programme in term four this year. Our target audience is hockey participants who are leaving school and transitioning from school hockey into club hockey.

Hockey New Zealand is seeking eight Associations to pilot the Youth Programme in term four 2012. The objectives of the Youth Programme are as follows:

1. To capture school hockey players leaving high school and transition them into club hockey
2. Provide support to Associations and clubs to recruit and retain new participants
3. Market and deliver recreational opportunities and support Associations to deliver a new product for Summer participation

If you wish to be involved, please send a short email to Ian Francis, National Participation and Development Manager, ian.francis@hockeynz.co.nz outlining your interest level, reasons for wanting to be involved and commitment to the Pilot programme.

 

Kind regards

Hilary Poole

Chief Executive
Hockey New Zealand

Match report
9 August, 2012

Black Sticks Women to play for bronze medal

The Black Sticks Women gave every inch they could muster in a semifinal drawn 2-2 at the end of extra time, with a penalty shootout that the Dutch world No 1 side won 3-1.

At Riverbank Arena, the Kiwis played the game of their lives leading twice in the match but could not hold on for what would have been their first win against Netherlands in a major international competition and would have given them a shot at gold.

The Black Sticks will now play Great Britain, after the home side lost to Argentina 2-1 in the later semifinal. The game is scheduled for 2.30am on Saturday (NZT).

“I think we earned a lot of respect today against one of the best teams in the world. We had an opportunity to compete in the gold medal match, but we could not score that third goal,” said head coach Mark Hager.

Co-captain Kayla Sharland said it was so disappointing to lose on shoot-outs.

“We will still be disappointed tonight and maybe even tomorrow, but then we will go back to training and refocus. We don’t want to leave empty handed now,” said Sharland.

The match had ended 2-2 at the end of normal time and neither side was able to break the deadlock in golden-goal extra-time.

The opening stages of the match were even, but it was New Zealand who took the lead, using their team referral in the seventh minute to earn the first penalty corner of the match.

Sharland took advantage of some apprehensive defensive play by the Dutch to score her fourth goal of the tournament, low to goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek’s right.

The Netherlands had two shots blocked by Black Sticks’ goalkeeper Bianca Russell before they levelled matters from a penalty corner in the 32nd minute through captain and world class drag flicker Maartje Paumen.

With it 1-1 at half time, the Black Sticks were right in the game. The shots on goal were equal, as was the possession.

Senior player Krystal Forgesson restored the Black Sticks lead in the 49th minute, receiving a Stacey Michelsen pass in the circle and firing the ball low.

Penalty corner chances dominated the rest of the match. Sharland, Clarissa Eshuis  and Katie Glynn all had further penalty corner chances for New Zealand as did Naomi van As and Welten. Netherlands used their referral to earn a penalty corner in the 53rd minute and Paumen scored her second goal.

Glynn left the field after a shocking knock to the head from a stick, but returned with her head taped up and played the rest of the game.

Michelsen was New Zealand’s only goal scorer during the shoot-out with Sombroek proving too big an obstacle.

It was the first penalty shoot-out in Olympic hockey history and it is the Netherlands third consecutive women’s Olympic final. It is the first time that a New Zealand women’s hockey team will play for a medal at an Olympics.

RESULTS
New Zealand 2 (Kayla Sharland, Krystal Forgesson) Netherlands 2 (Maartje Paumen x2) HT: 1-1. Extra time: 2-2. Shoot out: 3-1 to Netherlands.

Photos are available on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks.

Match report
8 August, 2012

 

Black Sticks Men draw 5-5 and now face Argentina

The Black Sticks Men have come away with a 5-5 draw against second ranked Germany in their final pool game of the Olympics.

It was a gutsy performance by the Kiwi side, yet one they are disappointed with after they let a three goal lead slip, with German’s equaliser coming in the final two minutes of the game.

Tonight’s result means New Zealand will be in the 9^th/10^th playoff against Argentina on Thursday at 7.30pm (NZ time).

Head coach Shane McLeod said the team was hurting after not being able to clinch the win.

“You play teams like Germany, with the quality they have and it’s never over. There’s 70 minutes in a hockey game and you have to play well for the 70 minutes. Our guys are really disappointed, they don’t consider that a draw, they very much consider it a loss,” says head coach Shane McLeod.

Captain Dean Couzins said he was pleased the first half and the way his team fought so hard with such determination throughout the game.

“We played a reasonably good tactical game, guys worked their guts out, it’s just the results are gut-wrenching. The desire is fantastic, we just didn’t have the composure at the end to finish it off,” said Couzins.

In a first half packed full of action, Nick Wilson scored in the fourth minute which was followed up two minutes later by a Richard Petherick drag flick.

Germany edged one back through Oskar Deecke and minutes later the second ranked side thought they had scored the equaliser, but Couzins asked for a video referral and the goal was disallowed.

The third goal for New Zealand came when Ryan Archibald passed it to Stephen Jenness who was perfectly positioned on the goal line to deflect it in.

Some clever play by Germany saw Florian Fuchs score a field goal in the 26^th minute.

New Zealand kept piling on the pressure and taking their fifth penalty corner Simon Child picked up a loose ball and flicked it high over goalkeeper’s Max Weinhold’s head and into the back of the net. It was 4-2 at half time.

Child converted a penalty corner early in the second half, but from there the Germans started their comeback, slotting goals in the 46^thand 50^th minute.

In the rain and with the crowd right behind the Kiwis, the Black Sticks worked hard to cling onto a one point lead but a goal from German’s Christopher Zeller in the 68^th minute tied the game up 5-5 at full time.

 

RESULTS
New Zealand 5 (Nick Wilson, Richard Petherick, Stephen Jenness, Simon Child x2) Germany 5 (Oskar Deecke, Florian Fuchs, Thilo Stralkowski, Christopher Zeller x2) HT: 4-2

Photos are available on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks.

Match report

6 August, 2012

 

Black Sticks Women through to semi-finals

The Black Sticks Women made history today by reaching their first ever Olympic semi-final after a nail-biting scoreless draw against third ranked Germany.

The statistics didn’t go their way and it wasn’t a win, but it was all smiles for the Kiwi side at full time today at Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park. They finish second in Pool B, sitting on 10 points.

“It is a huge result. I don’t think anyone expected us to make the semis, I think we were always possibly seen as a threat. We started the tournament on a roll and that has continued,” says head coach Mark Hager.

Kayla Sharland said to get through to the semi-finals means so much, especially considering how far they have come since their disappointing Olympic campaign at Beijing Olympics four years ago where they finished last.

“We were nervous coming into this game, we knew what it meant. It is a special group and we have played hard throughout this tournament and that last ten minutes was no different. We just needed to chase, chase, chase and work together as a unit and that’s what we did,” says co-captain Sharland.

Goalkeeper Bianca Russell had an outstanding game, as did the other New Zealand defenders with Hager saying the defensive effort at this tournament is the best he has ever seen from his side. And they needed to defend well, as Germany had 11 shots on goal compared to the Black Sticks’ five.

New Zealand’s best two chances came to Charlotte Harrison and Katie Glynn but they were unable to finish off and find the back of the net.

With the introduction of the video umpire during this Olympics, decisions have frequently been referred upstairs and in this game it resulted in Germany having two goals disallowed.

Both Hager and Sharland said although they will enjoy the moment for now, tomorrow their focus will immediately turn to their next game. It is still to be determined who the Black Sticks will meet in the semi-final with the Netherlands and Great Britain currently top of Pool A and due to face off at 6am Tuesday morning (NZT).

 

RESULTS
FT: 0-0

Photos are available on www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks.

Match report

5 August, 2012

 

Draw for Black Sticks Men against Belgium

The Black Sticks Men have drawn 1-1 to Belgium in their fourth pool game of the Olympics at Riverbank Arena dashing any hope of making the medal rounds.

Captain Dean Couzins said that although it wasn’t the game they wanted to play he is proud of his team’s determination.

“It is frustrating when it doesn’t go as you planned. Every game is very difficult – you aren’t going to get an easy ride against anyone. The guys are working hard to fight it out, we aren’t playing at the top of our game, but we are fighting really hard to get there and I’m proud of the guys for that,” said Couzins.

Head coach Shane McLeod said his side had the skills to win, but didn’t play with their normal level of confidence.

“We didn’t fire as many shots as we would have liked. I think we have to work even harder on the mental side of the game and getting our confidence back after losing earlier games in the tournament,” said McLeod.

“Belgium played well. They have some good young players and are a team on the rise that is making an impact on the world stage. The next game against Germany is an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world and we want to make sure that we play our very best,” says McLeod.

It was a patchy first half for the Black Sticks Men with Brad Shaw and Shea McAleese the only Kiwi’s to take a shot on goal. The score remained nil-all mainly thanks to some superb goal keeping by Kyle Pontifex – one of the stand-out players on the field.

Throughout the game the basics were not always done well by New Zealand and the consistent hassling from the Belgium team meant the Europeans held more possession for longer periods and were more threatening on attack.

In the second half, Belgium’s dominance paid off when Tom Boon scored when he was waiting for the ball on the goal line and deflected it high into the net in the 48^th minute.

Wilson scored a brilliant goal from close range in the 54^th minute weaving the ball through defenders and finding the space to knock it in. With the rain coming down, New Zealand’s last chance of edging ahead was when they were awarded two penalty corners in the final two minutes of the game, but although they came close they weren’t able to convert.

The Black Sticks Men play their final pool game against Germany at 8.15am on Wednesday before determining who they will take on in the play-offs.

RESULTS
New Zealand 1(Nick Wilson) Belgium 1 (Tom Boon). HT: 0-0

Photos are available on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks.

Match report
4 August, 2012

 

Black Sticks Women clinch 3-2 win over USA

The Black Sticks Women have come away with a gutsy 3-2 win over the United States thanks to goals from Kayla Sharland, Gemma Flynn and Clarissa Eshuis. It was the win they needed to keep their Olympic semi-final hopes alive.

But there is still some way to go. The young New Zealand side now need to win against Germany on Monday to book a spot in the medal rounds. A draw could get them through, but they would be reliant on the results of other Pool B games going their way.

“We have got a big hill to climb. We will have to perform above ourselves if we are to beat them [Germany] in the next game. But I think it is a challenge this team is ready for and hopefully we can achieve that,” said head coach Hager.

“The United States are a tough team, we always knew that they would counter attack and create opportunities, they made it hard for us as they have with every team here. We are just pleased to come away with a win.”

Co-captain Emily Naylor returned to the turf tonight after a back niggle took her out of the last game against Argentina. It was a big night for Naylor, playing her 200^th test match while Capital’s Anita Punt got her 100^th cap.

An early goal is becoming a Black Sticks trade mark in this Olympic tournament. This time it was co-captain Kayla Sharland who scored in the second minute from a penalty corner drag flick.

American Katie O’Donnell equalised in the 16^th minute, but New Zealand snatched the lead back three minutes later when Gemma Flynn found the back of the net at the break down of a penalty corner.

Claire Laubach was USA’s answer when she converted a penalty corner and equalised in the 34^th minute.

The start of the second half was much more settled than the first, with the Black Sticks unable to capitalise on the ball that they worked tirelessly to turn over.

There was a dramatic moment when Stacey Michelsen was standing at the post and deflected the ball in, but the goal was disallowed by the video umpire due to her high stick.

With 20 shots on goal compared with USA’s two goals from only two attempts throughout the game, it was an Eshuis drag flick that saw the ball rocket to the back of the net and put the Kiwis 3-2 up with six minutes left on the clock.

The pressure mounted for the Kiwis when Michelsen was yellow carded for the second time in the game – this time it was later in the second half when the USA had pulled goal keeper Amy Swensen into the field of play.

The USA did all they could to equalise in the dying minutes, but the Black Sticks left the field with the win, even if it was by a smaller margin than they had perhaps hoped for.

The Black Sticks Women play their final pool game against Germany at 7.30pm on Monday (NZT).

RESULTS
New Zealand 3 (Kayla Sharland, Gemma Flynn, Clarissa Eshuis) United States (Katie O’Donnell, Claire Laubach) 2. HT: 2-2

Photos are available on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks. For the full schedule, results and other information go to www.hockeynz.co.nz.

3 August, 2012
Match report

 

 

Black Sticks Men lose 5-1 to third ranked Netherlands

 

The Black Sticks Men did all they could to upset the world number three ranked side at Riverbank Arena in London today, but it was the Netherlands who came away with a 5-1 win and gained another three points.

The Black Sticks will need a miracle to book a place in the semi-finals now. With three points after three games, they would have to win the next two games against Belgium and Germany, count on some upsets in other matches, plus rely on goal difference to go their way.

“To go a goal up against Holland early is always in your planning, but Holland came back and played some really good hockey in the later part of the first half. To trail 3-1 is tough against a team that’s ranked No. 3 in the world. In an attempt to get those goals back the game opened up,” says national coach Shane McLeod.

“Because we were pushing often we put ourselves in situations that were very, very difficult for our defence to get control of.  Holland has some classy finishers up front and we ended up paying the price.”

Captain Dean Couzins said although the team are disappointed they will turn their attention to the game against Belgium and give it their best.

“You’re at an Olympic Games so there’s a lot of pride in our team to be able to try to finish as high up as we can,” says Couzins.

It was a fiery first half and the Black Sticks held nothing back. The Kiwis got on the board early when Nick Wilson cleverly controlled the ball along the baseline, passing to Simon Child who slotted it in.

A few minutes later the Dutch thought they had scored, but a video referral showed that Teun de Nooijer’s stick was high and the goal was disallowed.

It turned the Netherlands way when Roderick Weusthof and Mink van der Weerden each scored from a penalty stroke, giving them a 2-1 lead.

New Zealand played with real aggression and attacked well with Kyle Pontifex playing exceptionally well and the Kiwi defenders continuously hassling and turning over ball.

Billy Bakker stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 29^th minute and then he made it two when he scored in the 55^th minute.

The final goal of the game was from Dutch Robbert Kemperman who scored in the 67^th minute.

In other games today, Australia drew with Argentina 2-2 and Germany beat India 5-2, Great Britain beat Pakistan 4-1. Games still to play – South Africa vs Spain and Belgium to play Korea.

The Black Sticks will play Belgium at 7.30pm on Sunday (NZ Time) before playing Germany at 8.15am on Wednesday (NZT).

RESULTS
New Zealand 1 (Simon Child) Netherlands (Roderick Weusthof, Mink van der Weerden, Billy Bakker x2, Robbert Kemperman) 5. HT: 1-3

Photos are available on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks. For the full schedule, results and other information go to www.hockeynz.co.nz/London_2012/

2 August, 2012

Match report

 

Argentina get the better of the Black Sticks

The Black Sticks Women have gone down 2-1 to number two ranked Argentina in the third pool play match at the Riverbank Arena in London tonight.

National coach Mark Hager was not disappointed with the performance, saying his side had given it 100 per cent.

“I’m really proud of the team. In the first half we were probably a little bit apprehensive but in the second half I felt we took it to them and created enough opportunities,” said Hager.

“If you had have told me we’d be on six points after three games I’d have been happy.  Sometimes it doesn’t fall your way, and I think tonight was one of those nights. There are now four teams sitting on six points [in Pool B], so this next game against the US is a must win for us.”

It was decided later this afternoon that co-captain Emily Naylor, who was due to play her 200^th international test, was not going to play due to a back niggle.

Hager said the decision was more a precautionary measure and that the focus was to get her better for the next games, rather than risk further injury.

“I think not having her in the middle threw us out a little bit, it took its toll in the first half and we were struggling to get combinations together,” said Hager.

Argentinean player Carla Rebecchi got an early goal in the third minute when she found clear space and was able to get it passed Black Sticks goalkeeper Bianca Russell and find the back of the net.

New Zealand and Argentina had equal shots on goal in the first half with the Kiwis being awarded four penalty corners. But it was Las Leonas that held possession for longer periods of time and attacked with confidence creating more opportunities.

The Black Sticks came out stronger at the start of the second half, but it was not the Black Sticks night and Rebecchi stretched the lead to 2-0.

With the crowd cheering New Zealand on, the Kiwis got what they were looking for with 14 minutes left in the game when Gemma Flynn passed to Charlotte Harrison who was waiting, as she often does, on the corner of the goal to deflect it in.

The goal gave the Kiwi’s the lift they were after and they worked hard for the rest of the game to equalise, but to no avail.

Overall, the statistics were very equal with New Zealand having nine shots on goal and Argentina taking ten.

The Black Sticks Women will play the United States at 6am on Sunday before their final pool game against Germany at 7.30pm on Monday.

“We definitely want to come away with the three points. They’re going to be a tough team, they’ve played really, really well throughout the tournament so far,” says Harrison.

Other results from today saw Korea beat Japan 1-0, Australia beat USA 1-0, Netherlands beat China 1-0, Germany beat South Africa 2-0 and Great Britain beat Belgium 3-0.

RESULTS
New Zealand 1 (Charlotte Harrison) Argentina 2 (Carla Rebecchi x2). HT: 0-1

Photos are now on www.photosport.co.nz and www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks. For the full schedule, results and other information go to www.hockeynz.co.nz/London_2012/

1 August, 2012
Match report

 

A 3-1 win for the Black Sticks Men against India

 

The Black Sticks Men have beaten India 3-1 in their second game of the Olympics at the Riverbank Arena in London today.

Long-time player Ryan Archibald said the team were disappointed after losing their first match and were determined to win today.

“We brought our aggression and our physicality to the game and we had a must-win attitude and there was probably some desperation in there too,” said Archibald.

It was a game full of action which saw the Indian’s have 10 attempts on goal and the Kiwis have 13 shots – with six penalty corners being awarded to the Black Sticks.

“The boys played very well in the first half. I thought the second half was much more even, we needed to score a goal to break their game up but we were unable to do that. At the same time India had opportunities in the second half,” said head coach Shane McLeod.

The game got off to a quick start when at just 90 seconds into the match India went ahead after Sandeep Singh, who is world-renowned for his powerful flicking, converted an opportunity from a penalty corner.

New Zealand fans did not have to wait long as Black Stick Andy Hayward replied 11 minutes later when he successfully converted a penalty corner with his trademark drag flick.

Hayward was again involved in the lead-up to New Zealand’s second goal, his flick was partially saved by Indian goalkeeper Bharat Kumar Chetri, but the ball ricocheted into the body of a player who was standing on the goal line, leading to a penalty that Phil Burrows slid under Chetri’s outstretched right hand.

The third goal came in the 29^th minute from Nick Wilson following some brilliant passing combinations from Burrows and Shea McAleese.

Although the Indians looked more dominant and created more opportunities in the second half, the Black Sticks scrambled on defence and the half time score of 3-1 remained unchanged.

“The message was to have a good time out there, play the hockey we know we can play, throw the ball around and work really hard for each other. We did that today and if you work hard you get the results,” says Burrows.

The Black Sticks Men play their next game against the third ranked Netherlands side at 9.45pm on Friday 3 August.

“They are always a tough side to play, one of the powerhouses of hockey.  I think we can beat them, I think our pool is really wide open, everyone can beat everyone. We just have to play our game and see who wins on the day,” said Burrows.

The Black Sticks Men will then play eleventh ranked Belgium and second ranked Germany in pool play.

RESULTS
New Zealand 3 (Andy Hayward, Phil Burrows, Nick Wilson) India 1 (Sandeep Singh). HT: 3-1

Photos will be posted soon at www.photosport.co.nz or www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks. For the full schedule and other information go to www.hockeynz.co.nz/London_2012/

Match report
31 July, 2012

 

Black Sticks Women win 4-1 against South Africa

The Black Sticks Women have beaten South Africa 4-1 in their second game of the Olympics at the Riverbank Arena, London.

It was thanks to two goals from co-captain Kayla Sharland, a goal from birthday girl Charlotte Harrison and a superb drag flick from Clarissa Eshuis as well as some tight defence that helped to secure another three points for the Kiwi side.

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager said he was pleased with the first half performance but the second half was not as strong as he had hoped.

“There wasn’t a weak link in that first half, we played well, but in the second half I thought we struggled big time to control the ball.”

“We always said that if we had six or four points from the first two games we would be happy. We have done that, so at least we have given ourselves a chance,” says Hager.

But Hager is under no illusions that there are some hard yards to go.

“We have three very tough games coming up [in pool play]. Our next game is against Argentina, they are a quality well-disciplined side, we want a win, but it is up to us how we perform and play on the day.”

In a first half packed full of penalty corners, the Black Sticks started the game just like their last with a goal in the second minute, this time coming from Charlotte Harrison who converted a penalty corner.

“I’m so chuffed. When I heard the call for the corner I was pretty nervous, but it was my chance to shine.  Kayla hit it really well though, so it would have been pretty hard to miss,” says Harrison who turns 23 today.

Drag flicker Clarissa Eshuis fired one to the left hand corner of the goal in the 22^nd minute, and the final goal of the half came from co-captain Kayla Sharland in the 29^th minute despite much deliberation from the video referee about whether she was in fact inside the circle.

South Africa came out firing in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but some good tight defence from New Zealand prevented them from scoring. South Africa’s goal came in the 52^nd minute from Pietie Coetzee who scored from a penalty stroke.

Sharland extended the lead to 4-1 in the 61^st minute when she rocketed the ball to the back of the net and secured the win.

The Black Sticks Women play their next game against second ranked Argentina at 8.15am on Friday 3 August. They are also still to play tenth ranked United States and third ranked Germany in pool play.

RESULTS
New Zealand 4 (Charlotte Harrison, Clarissa Eshuis, Kayla Sharland x2), South Africa 1 (Pietie Coetzee). HT: 3-0

Go to www.photosport.co.nz or www.facebook.com/nzblacksticks to see photos from today’s game. For the full schedule and other information go to www.hockeynz.co.nz/London_2012/

Attached pic is co-captain Kayla Sharland. Credit photosport.co.nz.

For more information, please contact me on my UK number which is +44 754 449 1321.

Julia King

Communications Manager
Hockey New Zealand
DDI: +64 9 632 1844 MOB: + 64 27 291 2873