Hockey: Pearce strikes

It took a classy strike by Suzie Pearce in the 46th minute to break the dour Canadian defence in a women's hockey international in Palmerston North.

The match was far from pretty for the subdued crowd of about 700, who froze in temperatures more akin to Canada's in the depths of winter.

The Black Sticks, in their sleeveless summer dresses, had difficulty penetrating the packed defence and the gang-tackling of the women in red.

But the home side, ranked 11th in the world, looked the more skilful against the 19th-ranked Canadians in winning 1-0.