Hockey: Kiwis miss a finals place

Photo / APN

The New Zealand men's hockey team lost their chance of a finals berth, beaten 4-3 by England at the six nation champions trophy overnight, and play Spain later today for fifth and sixth place.

Ryan Archibald's 250th cap for New Zealand on Saturday provided some impetus to the Black Sticks men, but not enough to come back from a 1-3 half time deficit.

Coach Shane McLeod was left ruing the easy goals scored by England in the first half.

"I felt we conceded goals too easily and we were on the back foot from the start because the game changes as soon as you are a goal behind."

The team fought back and put pressure on England and "played some pretty good hockey", McLeod said.

"However, England was proficient in converting their opportunities and they took them very well."

James Tindall scored on England's first possession, weaving through the New Zealand defence to drive a shot into goal in the first seconds of play.

New Zealand responded in the seventh minute, Andy Hayward converting his first penalty corner from his third chance.

But England retook the lead through Simon Mantell with a drive from the left of circle after beating New Zealand's defence and Tindall added a third and his second goal, converting a cross with a deflection at the right post.

"It's tough to come back from 1-3 down at the break," said New Zealand captain Phil Burrows.

Hayward converted New Zealand's sixth penalty corner, low inside the left post early in the second half, then brought the Black Sticks right into contention with another converted penalty corner to tie the scores at 3-3.

But a yellow card to New Zealand's Brad Shaw two minutes later provided England with the opportunity to press for the winning goal.

They earned a penalty corner, converted by Richard Smith.

In the final seconds of play New Zealand ran possession into England's circle and claimed a video referral for an infringement by England as the siren sounded.

The video was inconclusive and New Zealand lost the chance to convert one last penalty corner to equalise.

In other matches, Netherlands beat Germany 1-0 and Australia beat Spain 3-1.

England play Australia in the final; and Germany and Netherlands play for third and fourth place.

- NZPA