Hockey: Cuts, bruises ... and victory

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

New Zealand have the cuts and bruises to show for their first ever Olympic hockey victory last night.

After 16 years and 14 matches the Kiwis finally cracked it, beating the feisty Chinese 2-0 in front of a raucous almost-home crowd.

It was just as rugged as they feared. Mandy Smith copped a stick in the nose; Suzie Pearce got a whack on the lip.

Chinese forward Chunling Tang was sinbinned when she stuck her stick in midfielder Caryn Paewai's throat; another Chinese player was carried off after a tangle with her opposite.

The win propels New Zealand to the top of their group, on equal points with Germany, with two pool games to go.

The New Zealanders were not thinking far ahead on Monday night night. They were just happy to revel in the victory. "Our first objective of this tournament was to get a win, and we've achieved it," said forward Anna Lawrence.

New Zealand's historic night began with an impromptu haka from a bunch of Kiwi fans, and ended with a lively victory lap of the ground.

In between, China made the early assault - they had a penalty corner in the first 90 seconds that would have been a sure goal but for a lightning dive by Kiwi goalie Helen Clarke.

The red wall of China marched on, until out of nowhere wing Kylie Foy ran the ball and in the next movement they had scored. Mandy Smith worked the ball into the circle, and after a frantic few seconds, Kate Trolove put a reverse stick flick over the top of the Chinese defence.

Smith made a scorching solo run, juggling the bobbly ball past at least five Chinese, but her shot at goal went wide.

New Zealand struck again straight after halftime when Tina Bell-Kake delivered a potent low-sweeping flick into the goal in a penalty corner.

New Zealand's defence was then put under severe pressure, Clarke and fullback Rachael Petrie making a series of superb saves to deny the Chinese any glory.

On Wednesday night New Zealand play Holland - the team of the year so far - who have yet to score a win in Sydney.

Their day off on Tuesday will be taken up reading messages of congratulations from their fans: before Monday night's victory they had at least 300 good luck messages from home.