Former Wairarapa age group representative and Dalefield premier men's player Benedict van Woerkom was an integral part of the Junior Black Sticks men's team which placed a creditable seventh at the 2013 Hockey Junior World Cup in India.
He scored a field goal against European powerhouse the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the New Delhi tournament.
In pool play, the Kiwis started with a 2-3 loss to Malaysia where both their goals were scored by Kane Russell followed by a 2-2 draw with England. Russell and Matt Rees-Gibbs found the net with a cracking reverse shot by Rees-Gibbs just three minutes from fulltime keeping New Zealand's hopes of making the top eight alive.
For that to happen they needed a win over South Africa next up and despite having a couple of players sidelined through a stomach bug, the Junior Black Sticks prevailed 1-0, thanks to another Russell goal.
After two rest days it was New Zealand v Netherlands in the quarter-final and while the Netherlands won 3-2 they had to work overtime for the victory. Field goals to Nic Woods and Van Woerkom for the Kiwis ensured a close finish.