Hockey: Desperation, desire prove the difference

Black Sticks Suzie Muirhead (left) and Stacey Carr clash with Madonna Blyth in New Zealand's 1-0 win against Australia in Auckland yesterday. Picture / Richard Robinson

NZ 1 Australia 0


It's only one game, but Black Stick fans are entitled to wonder if yesterday might come to be seen as a watershed in the transtasman balance of power.

A goal four minutes into the second half by midfielder Meredith Orr was enough to give the Black Sticks a memorable win over Australia, who haven't lost a match to New Zealand since July 2000. Put another way, that's 20 games between orange juices.

And that's what it was last night as the Black Sticks quietly celebrated a terrific performance. The bubbly can wait as they have games two and three in the World Cup qualifying series to come in Sydney on Thursday and Saturday.

It's a job half done, but this was a significant step as there was nothing lucky about yesterday's result at Auckland's Lloyd Elsmore Park.

The goal was cleverly crafted and the players worked tirelessly to stay in front. It was a display loaded with commitment and skill. The Black Sticks were well worth the win.

"I was confident if the girls performed well and played to their potential they had every chance to win. They've worked hard all year and that preparation is starting to show," Black Sticks coach Ian Rutledge said.

The victory was built round a sturdy defence in which Lizzy Igasan, Di Weavers and Emily Naylor were important figures.

When Australia attacked down the middle, captain Suzie Muirhead and her fellow midfielders made sure there was little room to move. When they went down the flanks, the Black Sticks were up to the mark.

One of the most impressive aspects of the win was their composure on the ball. They had the confidence to play their way out of a jam rather than give it the big whack.

And they had desperation. Black Sticks frequently flung themselves sideways to get a vital touch. Australia lacked that extra dimension until the final 20 minutes, when they felt the game slipping.

Australia were much improved in the second half, with striker Nikki Hudson always a threat. But they failed to convert either of their two penalty corners, fullback Angie Skirving's strikes being blocked by goalkeeper Anita Wawatai and Igasan.

New Zealand had only a couple of penalty corners themselves. Igasan's shot was blocked by Australian goalkeeper Rachel Imison early on, but the second one produced the game's decisive moment.

Igasan's firm shot was deflected high into the Australian net by Orr at full stretch from close range. It could have been two a minute later as the rattled Australians struggled to clear a goalmouth scramble.

Things got a bit dusty as Australian defender Emily Halliday took exception to a determined tackle from striker Krystal Forgesson, then Carr copped a belt on the head. But the Black Sticks held their nerve.

"Every single girl put in the amount of running and effort needed to get the result," Muirhead said. "We had a quiet confidence we could do it."

Five of the 16 players yesterday played in the last win over the Australians, 3-0 in Sydney five years ago - Muirhead, fellow midfielder Michelle Hollands, whose classy stickwork stood out on her return after a three-year absence, defenders Weavers and Caryn Paewai and striker Moira Senior.

This was a special day for them, as it was for 16-year-old Whangarei Girls High pupil Charlotte Harrison. She became the youngest New Zealand women's international when she came on after 24 minutes.

With her second touch she would have scored but for a reflex block from Imison and twice more she got shots on target.

"We felt she was good enough to be in the team," Rutledge said. "If you doubt them, don't pick them; if you pick them, don't doubt them."

Just as he didn't doubt his players could do the job yesterday, and they didn't let him down.