Hockey: Fight for final spots remains up in air

Jodie Kenny

A spate of stalemates has turned the Hawke's Bay Cup women's hockey tournament into a bit of a lottery this year.

Favourites and world No2 Australia yesterday drew 2-2 against China, hot on the heels of New Zealand drawing 2-2 with Japan on Saturday and the Hockeyroos unable to break a 1-1 deadlock against the resurgent World No5 Americans.

Before the tourney the Asian teams expressed specific interest in taking a bunker mentality in the nine-day affair and it seems they are proving a handful.

On Saturday, China chalked up a 2-1 victory over the lowest-ranked opponents in the tourney, No13 India.

Add to that the Black Sticks' emphatic 3-2 win over defending champions and world No3 Argentina and the final berth in the tourney on Sunday becomes a free-for-all affair.

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Australia, who scrambled a late equaliser against the Argentinians on Saturday, had the better of the early play yesterday and were rewarded in the fourth minute when captain Madonna Blyth netted.

Yang Peng pulled a goal back for China, 1-1, from a penalty corner (PC) with four minutes left in the second spell.

That stung the Roos into action with Jodie Kenny finding the net from a PC for a 2-1 lead into the breather.

Xiayun Xi levelled terms 2-2 only five minutes after play resumed but neither side was able to find a winner.

-India drew first blood against the US but eventually succumbed 4- 2 in the battle of cup newcomers.

Striker Anuradha Thokchom scored but the US equalised, 1-1, 13 minutes later when Jill Witmer found the back of the net.

Kathleen Sharkey broke the deadlock and struck again a minute later as the US led 3-1, but India pulled one back from Thokchom. Julia Reinprecht made it 4-2 in the final spell.