Hockey: Black Sticks share series with old rivals Australia

New Zealand shared the honours with world men's hockey No 1 Australia after their third successive draw here yesterday.

The teams could not be separated after the three-match series, yesterday's 3-3 draw a repeat of the scoreline of the first test before the second was drawn 1-1.

New Zealand led 3-1 with nine minutes to go at Sydney Olympic Park yesterday but goals to Jamie Dwyer and Dean Butler in the space of 90 seconds avoided some embarrassment against the No 10-ranked tourists.

"It's not often we get to 3-1 against Australia so there's mixed feelings there," said New Zealand coach Shane McLeod, who has his side playing some outstanding hockey ahead of their Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland in February.

"It's all about the comfort zone. when you achieve those couple of goals it's how you react and I'm a little bit disappointed we let it go in the last part."

Australian coach Barry Dancer was happy his side fought back but admitted there were deficiencies in the circle at both ends of the field.

* Korea ended a one-sided women's series against New Zealand with a 3-1 win at North Harbour yesterday.

The visitors were too good in all seven matches against a Black Sticks side missing several of their best players and who were using the series as trials against quality opposition.

Coach Kevin Towns was to name an initial Olympic squad of 20 players next week to begin preparing for the Games next year and was a keen observer of several fringe candidates.

- NZPA