Roller Hockey: Kiwis keep transtasman cup

CHASE EVERYTHING: Wanganui's Joe Zinsli slides across Jubilee Stadium as Australia's Jason Shah looks to get the ball. Both scored crucial goals for their teams in the second game of the three-test series. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

New Zealand retained the Trans Tasman Cup but not without a physical struggle on Jubilee Stadium's hard wood as Wanganui hosted the first roller hockey test series between the teams since 2010 at the weekend.

Starting on Friday night, New Zealand held onto a 3-1 win in the first test against the Australians, who had a smaller lineup and used some of their Under 20's team as bench players, who were pulling double duty with their own three-test series against New Zealand U20.

New Zealand had led 2-0 for the better portion of the contest before the Aussie scored with two minutes to go, with New Zealand having three players put in the penalty box, while the Kiwi goalie was able to hold out six direct penalty shots during the contest.

It set up the second test at midday on Saturday where New Zealand looked to have the game secured at 6-4 with six and a half minutes left, after Wanganui's Joe Zinsli scored a crucial goal off a flick pass from captain Craig Mackie of Wellington, who had a fantastic game.

However, as they did the day before, Australia came roaring back with two goals in the space of a minute first from James Murray scoring off a deflection, then Jason Shah getting a penalty after being fouled in front and nailing the direct penalty with a straight shot for a 6-6 draw.

In roller hockey, the small nets allow plenty of coverage for the goalkeepers like New Zealand's Steve Tonkin and Australia's Daniel Marin, so whenever they can get the angle for a snap shot or can work the ball in from close range, players have to make their opportunities count.

New Zealand had more chances on goal in the opening exchanges, but conceded the first point before Taranaki's Rohan Singh equalised.

Mackie got free of his falling defender to put a second goal in the top of the net for 2-1, but momentum in roller hockey can shift in an instant as Jamie Brockman broke away for an immediate reply, 2-2.

Brockman was at it again shortly after as the fired-up Australians took a 3-2 lead into the break, which they extended to 4-2 just after the resumption when captain Cameron Boehm scored despite the Kiwi's protesting a foul.

Things were getting heated as Murray was given a purple card for a seven-minute time out, while both teams also got into a pushing match in the Australian corner.

Wellington's Daniel Moore scored a direct penalty to close the gap, and then Mackie showed his class to guide his team to three straight goals.

First, Mackie found a chink in the noticeably tighter Aussie defence and fed Murray for his second, and then the captain went himself with some nifty work to beat two defenders and get his shot past the keeper.

Bevan Hurley hit the post on a crucial direct penalty for the Australians and then Mackie fed Zinsli for a popular goal and 6-4 lead before the visitors comeback.

After Shah's penalty, New Zealand could not regather the ball until seven seconds were left, with their coach Russell Clark saying they had the Australians at nine infringements and were trying to draw one more to get a direct penalty chance.

The coach acknowledged with a grin that just like in other sports, the Anzac rivalry can get a little heated. "A bit of fun, eh? It's just great. We love to play internationals because we don't get to, too often."

Still, the tied match meant Australia could not then win the Cup as it stays with the holders in the event of a drawn series. The Kiwis saved their best for last in the final game on Saturday night, beating the Australians 9-4 to wrap up the series 2-0.

In the other series played at Jubilee Stadium, the New Zealand U20's, who had three Wanganui teenagers amongst them, comfortably won their

series 3-0, beating Australia 7-4, 9-5 and 9-3.

A North vs South series was held for fringe players that did not make the national lineups, with the North winning the first two games before South got some payback in the third.

In the youth games, Wanganui beat Papatoetoe by comfortable margins.

NZ Rink Hockey is hoping to make a return trip to Australia in June or July 2015, taking men's, women's and junior squads.

Results:

Trans Tasman Cup: New Zealand won 2-0 (3-1, 6-6, 9-4).

Under 20's: New Zealand won 3-0 (7-4, 9-5, 9-3).

North vs South: North won 2-1 (7-4, 8-4, 8-10).

Youth: Wanganui won 3-0 (10-1, 9-1, 10-6).