Hockey: Black Sticks lose at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Shay Neal scored the only goal for New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand men's hockey team has gone down 1-3 to Great Britain at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia this morning (NZT).

It was a masterful display from the Great Britain side, which was the more patient team in the match, opting to attack when openings were presented instead of moving upfield.

Chances were few in between for New Zealand, and when they were awarded a penalty corner in the 10th minute Andrew Hayward failed to find the target.

Great Britain took the lead in the 14th minute as a Richard Mantell flick found its way past the despairing dive of New Zealand keeper Kyle Pontifex.

The second goal was cleverly worked out by Great Britain. Off their second penalty corner in the 51st minute, Mantell played a relatively slow shot into the diving Pontifex and pusher Jonathan Clarke had the easy task of picking up the rebound and slotting it into the empty net.

Four minutes later Great Britain was 3-0 up, courtesy of a thunderous hit by Richard Alexander from the top of the semi circle.

New Zealand reduced the deficit in the 60th minute when Shay Neal scored to make it 3-1. But they ran out time to rescue anything from the match as Great Britain netted the crucial three points.

After earlier losing to 2-4 to Pakistan and drawing 1-1 with South Korea, New Zealand are now rooted at the bottom of the table, sixth in the seven-team competition.

Tomorrow they face hosts Malaysia, the only team below them with two losses from two matches.

- NZPA