Thrilling finale to US series

STAYER: Gemma Flynn is closing in on 200th appearancePHOTO/FILE

The fate of the six-test international women's hockey series between the Black Sticks and the United States will be dictated by results at Clareville over the weekend.

At the halfway point, it was all square with the two tests at Stratford resulting in a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 success to the Black Sticks and the United States levelling things up by securing a 2-1 victory in the first of two tests being played in Palmerston North.

The second of those was scheduled for last night but, no matter the result there, it will be at Clareville - either tomorrow or on Sunday - where the overall winner will be decided.

And if that situation doesn't guarantee capacity crowds for what are the very first full hockey internationals to be hosted by Hockey Wairarapa then nothing will. Start time for both matches is 2pm.

The closeness of the scores in the opening three games should have come as no surprise.

The Black Sticks do have the higher world ranking of the two sides, but they are without nine of the squad that played at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and are up against a United States side who have shown immense improvement over the past year or so.

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager was making no secret about what he saw as the main deficiency in the Blacks Sticks performance when they were toppled in the first of the Palmerston North games.

Hager pointed to the fact his side had 14 scoring opportunities by halftime and hadn't scored from any of them.

"There just isn't enough venom from our forwards if I could put it that way."

But while he was disheartened by the effort in the attacking circle area, Hager was pleased with defence of the Kiwis and said the series as a whole was providing valuable lessons for his players.

"They are learning you have to play well in every game, not just when you feel like switching it on."

Two of the Blacks Sticks squad in Gemma Flynn and Anita Punt are fast closing in on their 200th appearance for the country while Sam Charlton is over the 100 mark.