Hockey: Korean triumph boosts Hager

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager. File photo / Dean Purcell

In his time as Black Sticks coach Mark Hager has earned a reputation as a hard taskmaster - in a nice way.

Always looking for something better, Hager now feels he has the players to do it.

A 4-1 win by the New Zealand women in the opening match of the five-test home series with South Korea at Lloyd Elsmore Park on Saturday gives him some hope that a first series win over an international opponent might be within their collective grasp.

Hager was quick to keep the win by his seventh-ranked team over the eighth-ranked Koreans in perspective before tomorrow's second international of the Malaysia Airlines Summer Series in Whangarei.

"It was great to have a win to start the series," said Hager of what he tagged a pleasing performance.

"The combinations weren't always quite there. We need to continue to work on structures and value our possession more in the front third."

Dealt a blow when the co-captain, the vastly experienced Kayla Sharland, was ruled out of the opener with a minor quad injury - she is expected to play game two - the home team went ahead in the 30th minute after some good stick work from Gemma Flynn led to Sam Harrison taking advantage of a loose ball in the circle to score.

Two minutes later they doubled their lead when, from their second penalty corner, drag-flick exponent Clarissa Eshuis scored.

Eighteen minutes into the second half Jong Eun Kim got one back for the visitors, but that joy was short-lived. Cathryn Finlayson soon extended the Black Sticks' lead after breaking deep into Korean territory and whacking home a great goal on the run.

Although the Black Sticks dominated much of the second half, the Koreans reminded the home team of their ability only to be let down by poor finishing.

The scoring was completed late in the game when Katie Glynn and Flynn combined well before feeding Krystal Forgesson who had the final touch.

Game three will also be played in Whangarei as the early game in Thursday's double-header, in which the New Zealand men will play their second test against Belgium after tomorrow night's opener, also in Whangarei.