Two games in 24 hours and and two very different results.
The New Zealand men's hockey team turned in a lacklustre effort yesterday to draw 0-0 with Japan, barely a day after beating them 3-1 to wrap up the five-test series in Obaye.
It was a disappointing final
effort from the Black Sticks with coach Shane McLeod using the game as a dress rehearsal for next month's crucial Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Australia.
But McLeod did take some satisfaction from watching his charges complete the series unbeaten. Ninth-ranked New Zealand beat Japan (ranked 11) in three tests with the other two drawn.
The afternoon heat and the hectic schedule took its toll in the tour finale.
The New Zealanders uncharacteristically gave away too much ball which resulted in a heavy defensive workload with the midfielders forced to race back in cover more often than they might have expected.
Despite the sub-par effort, the Black Sticks attack, led by Phil Burrows, always appeared likely to score but could not break down the Japanese defence.
Both teams forced three penalty corners.
Only a desperate goal-line clearance from Dean Couzins after goalkeeper Paul Woolford had partially saved, kept the home side out.
It was a far cry from the fourth test - in a game played under lights in cooler conditions - when New Zealand, despite being held 0-0 in the first half, were always in command.
They created a number of half chances, numerous circle penetrations and forced three penalty corners in the opening 35 minutes.
Hayden Shaw, from their fourth corner (just two minutes into the second half), broke the deadlock with a trademark drag flick. Burrows mopped up from another penalty corner in the 59th minute for 2-0.
Japan hit back quickly to close the gap before Simon Child completed the scoring in the dying seconds.
North Harbour's Blair Hopping and Dave Kosoof played their 150th and 100th matches for their country respectively.
