New Zealand 2
Japan 0
The New Zealand women emphatically sealed the five-match series against Japan last night.
The less experienced, but higher-ranked, Black Sticks bounced back from a tentative 2-0 loss in a poor opening effort six days earlier to take the series 3-1 with the penultimate test drawn 2-2.
It was an encouraging
showing from the home team last night and a much-needed workout in preparing for a much tougher assignment - the looming three-test series against world No 1 Argentina.
As they had done on Wednesday night, the home side went on to the offensive from the outset but this time with more composure and accuracy than they had shown in the fourth test.
That early attacking initiative was rewarded with penalty corners in the 14th and 15th minutes.
The first presented Kayla Sharland with the opportunity to hit hard and low but goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano was well-positioned to block.
In failing to clear, the visitors gave up a second penalty corner from which the Black Sticks, with another variation, picked out Katie Glynn, who provided the telling touch and her third goal in as many matches.
The Black Sticks dominated for long periods, leaving goalkeeper Sally Rutherford with an armchair ride.
Japan's only scoring chance came on the half-hour when they were fortuitously awarded a penalty corner for a tackle outside the circle.
The shot was fired in and took a deflection for a long corner.
Japan had a rare foray early in the second half but Rutherford cleared easily.
Three minutes into the second spell the home side turned the screws, quickly turning defence into attack.
Sam Harrison charged strongly on the left, broke into Japanese territory, played the ball in and watched in delight as Glynn controlled well before firing home hard and low for her fifth goal of the series.
Stung by that, the Japanese lifted their game, confidently went on the attack and on three or four occasions challenged Rutherford with promising raids and shots. Rutherford dealt with these coolly under pressure and watched as another was fired wide.
Black Sticks coach Mark Hager used his bench well, rotating his midfield and attack constantly to keep the visitors under pressure.
He was rewarded with a better all- round showing but, again, was still not 100 per cent happy as his squad, ranked seventh - two places higher than their opponents - failed to turn domination in possession and territory into more goals.
But at least they took the series - their second in a month after their clean sweep over Korea.
