Hockey: Black Sticks v Japan in final

WINNING FEELING: Black Sticks celebrate the match-winning goal of Pippa Hayward (first from left of Aussie defender) in Hastings tonight. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

The New Zealand women's hockey team will play Japan in the final tomorrow after beating defending champions Australia in the second semifinal of the Hawke's Bay Cup tournament in Hastings tonight.

The Kiwis nudged ahead 3-2 with two seconds remaining in the third spell before keeping the Aussies on the back foot for most part of the final quarter, amid a fine drizzle, to maintain that advantage to the final hooter.

The delighted crowd counted down the last five seconds in chorus as the Black Sticks raised their arms in glory and the spent Hockeyroos keeled over in a playoff that was befitting a match on an international stage.

The "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi, Oi!" chant kicked in late in the third quarter after the New Zealanders raided the Aussie goalmouth for a lion's share of turf time but it was Pippa Hayward who delivered the game breaker much to the dismay of Aussie goalkeeper Ashlee Wells.

"We are really happy to come back from two goals down [as] we were a little slow to start and hesitant and weren't probably as aggressive as we'd like to have been so credit to the girls to come back tonight," said captain Samantha Charlton.

It took a good part of 20 minutes for the Kiwis to settle down but to the relief of the parochial home crowd they kept nipping at the heels to level 2-2 by halftime.

The hosts, seeking their maiden title, gnawed away at the Madonna Blyth-captained Hockeyroos' 2-0 lead early in the second quarter to give a vociferous bumper crowd on a kitchen-sponge night at the Unison Hockey Stadium something to cheer about.

Forward Charlotte Harrison scored the first Kiwi field goal in the 24th minute to make it 2-1 after an excellent cross from Stacey Michelsen before Olivia Merry made it anyone's game at the breather with a point-blank finish, 2-2, with just 46 seconds remaining on the clock after an educated pass from Sophie Cocks on the flank.

The Aussies got on the scoreboard twice, courtesy of Kathryn Slattery who displayed dazzling dribble skills, beating three Black Sticks defenders before finding a sweet chord with the backboard past keeper Sally Rutherford for the 1-0 lead.

Slattery extended that lead early in the second quarter (22nd minute) to remind a hesitant Kiwi defence to tighten up or feel her thorny presence.

Both sides claimed a penalty corner each in the first spell -- the Aussies in just the 2nd minute and the hosts in the ninth -- without scoring.

The Aussies looked calm and collected in defence and incredibly swift on counterattacks but in the second half came across somewhat subdued.

If a smiling Hockeyroos coach, Adam Commens, was unhappy, he certainly didn't show it.

Charlton said the high-tempo start from the archrivals caught them on the hop but they got the ball going a little quicker in the second half to resolve the issue.

"We worked off each other a little more and gave each other more options off the ball with some hard running."

Traditionally the Kiwis tend to run the ball through the rib of the turf but tonight Charlton said the edict was "quick release" to open up more one-on-one chances higher up the field.

"In the second half our wingers and centre forwards had more opportunities just by us releasing it quickly and getting in behind their defence."

It was rotating captain Michelsen's 200th match and, no doubt, a memorable one.

"We're really, really happy for her because she's a fantastic player so it was good to get one for her today," said Charlton, who emphasised the troops would go through the processes tomorrow to redefine a template for the gritty and speedy Japanese.

"We're going to have to adjust our style because we know Japan will be a tough defensive unit because they play a different style to the Aussies," she said after Japan held the Aussies to 1-1 on day one.

A grinning Charlton saluted the boisterous home crowd that shut up the "Oi, Oi, Oi" and gave her players a spring in their steps.

"They were great. Despite all the rain it was fantastic to see so many from the community out here tonight so, hopefully, everyone will come along tomorrow night," she said of the cup final that will start from 5.15pm.

A circumspect Blythe said it was disappointing to lose the semifnal but tempered that with becoming more hockey-savvy for the experience.

"That's the style of hockey that we've always come up against when we play the Kiwis. It's very open, very attacking and lots of goals scored."

Blythe said they were mindful the 2-0 lead was going to dissipate so they needed to extend the lead to 3 or 4 to give themselves some breathing space.

"Both teams played really well and we're pretty happy but it's just the result we're a little disappointed with."

The videotaped session, she said, would no doubt reveal things Commens and Co would focus on tweaking.

"This is why you come to these types of tournaments so that you can get as many matches you can against good teams, especially with Rio [Olympics] to learn as much as you can."

She said the inclement weather wasn't ideal but suspected it wasn't an issue for either team.

The Mark Hager-coached Black Sticks wore black armbands to pay their respects to retired Christchurch-born forward Jaimee Provan-Claxton whose mother has died.

In the first all-Asian semifinal, world No 10 Japan upset 5th-ranked China after Hazuki Nagai converted from a penalty corner in the 28th minute before defending tenaciously to book a final berth.