Hockey: Black Sticks' win heats up festival

Black Sticks player Olivia Merry is congratulated after she scores from a penalty.

The Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey's eight nations tournament is heating up, with the Black Sticks women progressing to the quarter-finals after beating Korea last night.

In their final pool game at the regional sports park in Hastings, the team in black braved freezing conditions in front of a modest crowd and came out with a 2-1 victory.

A festival spokesman said the stands were not as full as when the Black Sticks beat Argentina, ranked third in the world, on Sunday night, probably due to the cold.

Black Sticks captain Anita Punt controls the ball.

The 3-2 win against Argentina had been a boon for the team after they scrambled to draw 2-all with Japan in their opening game of the tournament.

Now, having beaten Korea, the team is set to play India, who are ranked 13th in the world, in the quarter-finals tomorrow.

The semifinals will be played on Saturday, with the finals on Sunday.

Also hitting off tomorrow is the under-17 secondary schoolgirls' Furnware Cup tournament.

The category has been expanded to eight teams, with the inclusion of Wanganui Collegiate and St Peter's, Cambridge, who join returning talent from Gisborne Girls', Havelock North and Taradale High schools as well as Woodford and Iona colleges.

The festival runs until Sunday, with more than 80 games hosted at the Regional Sports Park and Park Island in Napier.

-For tickets and more information on the festival visit www.hockeyfestival.nz