Hockey: Punt scores four in victory

Anita Punt in action during today's game at the Whangarei ITM Hockey Centre. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

The Black Sticks Women have wrapped up their series against Canada in Whangarei, with a 5-1 win thanks to captain Anita Punt who converted four penalty corners.

It was a scrappy game compared to the previous two tests at the Whangarei ITM Hockey Centre, but Punt's clinical drag flicks helped pull her side to a 3-0 series victory.

"We didn't start that great today, whereas yesterday we had a really good first half and then let ourselves down in the second," said Punt.

"The performance for me on the field I thought was a bit disappointing, I didn't do what I would like to have done, but it's really good to execute the penalty corners. That is something I've been working on and I take pride in the percentage we convert," said Punt.

This series against Canada has provided coach Mark Hager the chance to give his side some game time after the summer break as well as test newcomers Rachel McCann and Kirsten Pearce.

"The combinations that we have started to build, especially with the new girls that have come in, we can only get better from here. We haven't actually had a lot of training so far this year, so it is exciting to see the potential the team has," said Punt.

Today's game was the opposite of yesterday's, with the majority of goals being scored in the second half.

Punt converted a penalty corner in the second minute and although the Kiwis had numerous shots at goal throughout the first half, the Canadian defence did a good job of shutting them down.

In the 33rd minute, Canadian Brienne Stairs scored the equaliser and the Black Sticks worked hard to regain the lead.

The Kiwis got what they wanted ten minutes later when McCann scored, working the ball through the Canadian defence and knocking home her first international goal.

From then on, it was all high-fives to Punt as she converted three penalty corners and stretched the full time score to 5-1.

The Black Sticks Women have a short break and then a five week training block ahead of the Hawke's Bay Festival in April.