Hockey: Argentina sweep to 5-1 victory

A bold second-half showing carried Argentina to a 5-1 win over the New Zealand women in Pukekohe last night to compete a clean sweep of the three-test series.

For the opening 35 minutes, the Black Sticks lifted their game from what they had shown in the series openers in Whangarei but were still caught out by the clinical Argentines at set play to trail 0-2 at halftime.

The second half was dominated by the world's second-best team as they raced to 5-0 before Sam Harrison scored a late consolation for the home side.

The visitors' first-half goals were scored after 10 minutes, when Soledad Garcia picked up a rebound from a penalty corner to score, and in the 22nd minute, courtesy of a penalty stroke converted by Claudia Burkart.

In keeping with his policy of giving all players in his squad game time, coach Mark Hager again rang the changes, giving Stacey Brannigan, 23, Katie Glynn, 20, Anita Punt, 21, and Sophie Devine, 19, their international debuts. Hager has now played nine of his 11 newcomers in the three matches against the South Americans.

It was a better showing by the New Zealanders in the first half with defenders Clarissa Eshuis and Lucy Talbot showing out on defence. Eshuis marked her game with a superb stick stop from one penalty corner attempt.

While the Black Sticks again came close to matching the visitors in general attacking play, they forced only one first-half penalty corner to the four claimed by Argentina.

Carla Rebecchi stretched the lead with a soft penalty corner conversion early in the second half before Garcia drew goalkeeper Bianca Russell to score from open play for 4-0.

A well-taken goal, also scored from general play, by Delfina Merino rubbed further salt into New Zealand wounds before Harrison's late effort saved face.

Argentina won the first two tests 7-4 and 4-1 to continue their unbeaten run against New Zealand stretching back to 1988.

In their last seven outings against the visitors, New Zealand have scored only eight goals while conceding 31.

There is no rest for the home team.

They will play China in the first of two tests in Hamilton tonight (6.30pm) before returning to Pukekohe to play the second, and last, test against China tomorrow (also at 6.30pm) as Hager continues his search for a first win against world-class opposition.