A hat-trick from Tauranga's Abir Mukherjee has helped New Zealand secure victory in their junior men's hockey series against Malaysia with a game in hand after winning the third test 4-2 in Dunedin yesterday.
Mukherjee scored twice in the first half as the hosts took a 2-1 lead into half-time, althoughMalaysia tied up the match early in the second half before Mukherjee broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining, completing his hat-trick.
Dwayne Rowsell scored New Zealand's fourth goal, from a penalty corner after the final whistle, sealing the win and a 2-0 series lead with tomorrow's fourth and final match remaining.
Mukherjee was one of 18 players selected in the Junior Black Sticks after starring for Midlands at the national under-21 tournament in Dunedin earlier this month. He was surprised to be selected but is relishing the opportunity to play at the top of the sport.
"I've represented Tauranga in the under-18s and I'm currently playing in Hamilton, but this is the first national side that I have been part of so I'm just stoked to have been invited and keen to learn as much as possible," said the 19-year-old student, now in his second year of studying earth science at Waikato University.
Junior Black Sticks coach Grant Edwards said Mukherjee's game intelligence and skill as a forward earned him the spot in the team.
"He is fast, skilful, positions himself well on the field and is a great deflector of the ball, which helps create attacking opportunities throughout a game," Edwards said.
Edwards is using the series against Malaysia in Dunedin as a chance to develop players' technical and tactical skills, embedding a winning culture in the team so that they are knocking on the door of the senior Black Sticks squad in the future.
