Hockey: Black Sticks coach sees hope in defeats

Australia claimed the early psychological advantage with wins over New Zealand in Oceania Cup pool matches in Invercargill yesterday, but Black Sticks women's coach Mark Hager was not reading too much into the results.

First, he watched his side fall 2-0 behind inside four minutes before getting back to 2-1 and holding the visitors to that score for the rest of their match.

Then, as a former Australian international and top goal-scorer, he took more than passing interest in the men's game in which New Zealand traded early goals with the Australians before going down 5-2.

"I am sure nerves played a big part in our horror start," said Hager, who watched as Nicole Arnold and Ashleigh Nelson gave Australia the decisive early advantage.

"From that point I was pleased in the way we took it to them and a draw would have been a fair result.

"But, again, the players learned some harsh lessons. If you don't put away the good scoring chances you create you can't expect to win. We weren't clinical enough in front of goal.

"It was pleasing that our goal did come from set play as that is something we have been working on," said Hager. "Overall, we can go away with a bit of confidence in looking forward to the big game on Saturday.

"They are quality opposition. You don't get to be three or four in the world if you can't play."

Charlotte Harrison provided the finishing touch to a Clarissa Eshuis penalty corner strike to give the Black Sticks some hope in the 14th minute.

Hager rested Lucy Talbot and Stacey Carr yesterday to give both goalkeepers half a game.

"While we missed Carr's experience, I was pleased with the way the midfield trio of Stacey Michelsen, Gemma Flynn and Anna Thorpe played," said Hager.

"Both goalkeepers, Beth Jurgeleit and Bianca Russell, did well which has given me something to think about before we name the team to play Saturday's final."

Men's captain Phil Burrows, after a good run from Simon Child, opened the scoring in the late match after 18 minutes. Luke Doerner struck back with a lethal drag flick for Australia three minutes later.

Arun Panchia pounced on a penalty corner rebound to put the Black Sticks ahead for the second time but again the visitors, through Jamie Dwyer, hit back quickly.

The Australians scored three in the second spell - including second goals for Doerner and Dwyer (in the last seconds) - to win by a flattering three-goal margin.

New Zealand play Samoa in today's final pool matches with their expected comfortable victories taking them through to Saturday's finals where direct World Cup entry will be at stake.