NZ 1 Japan 0
Defending champions New Zealand kept their hopes of retaning hockey's Hawke's Bay Cup alive with a 1-0 win against Japan in Hastings tonight.
Japan defended well during a scoreless first quarter. Japanese keeper Megumi Kageyama did well to save two penalty corner attempts from the Kiwis, one in the second minute and the other with a minute's play remaining.
Japan, who displayed vast improvement on the previous day's 2-1 loss to the Aussies were dangerous on the counter attack.
New Zealand opened the scoring five minutes into the second quarter. Kirsten Pearce scored after Kageyama saved a penalty corner attempt from Brooke Neal.
With this lead New Zealand appeared to be a little conservative but at least they were retaining possession for long periods. The score remained 1-0 at the halftime whistle.
Pippa Hayward marshalled the Black Sticks defence well during the third quarter when the hosts spent long periods on attack. The Kiwis had a penalty corner attempt saved four minutes into the quarter and a promising scoring opportunity after a burst down the right wing involving quick passing between captain Olivia Merry and Amy Robinson was saved in spectacular fashion by Kageyama.
Two more penalty corner attempts were saved by Kageyama and Japan still had a sniff going into the final quarter. The Kiwis defence was strong and Japan's only penalty attempt in the quarter, with two minutes remaining, bounced off the post.
Hockey:
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