Hockey: Black Sticks' best keep gold hopes alive

New Zealand's Emily Naylor kept the England attack at bay. Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

New Zealand 4 England 0

Class defender Lizzy Igasan turned in a storming game as the Black Sticks thrashed England, then insisted New Zealand have the talent to go all the way to the gold medal.

New Zealand's win ensured they will get what is, on paper, the easier semifinal tomorrow against the winner of last night's late game between India and Malaysia, thus avoiding hotshots Australia until the final.

North Harbour's Igasan showed why she's rated among the best in the game, helping organise a fine defensive effort, which included Di Weavers and Emily Naylor and both goalkeepers, Anita Wawatai and Beth Jurgeleit, who had a half each. No goals have been conceded in the last three games.

"This performance shows we do have the goods to go all the way, if we continue to work hard, continue to do the little things well and continue to take care of business," she told the Herald last night.

It might sound a lot of ifs, but this was an emphatic victory against a tough English team who had not conceded a goal in pool play.

Both teams were certain of a semifinal before the match. England will face Australia and after the game their players looked as happy as a turkey on December 1.

But Igasan and coach Ian Rutledge insisted using the preferred pathway to the final was not part of their pre-game motivation.

"At the end of the day you have to be prepared to play not only the low ranked teams but the higher ones as well," Igasan said.

The Black Sticks put into action precisely what they had planned in training. The defence was solid and composed, captain Suzie Muirhead and Michelle Hollands were sharp in midfield and up front Krystal Forgesson, Honor Dillon and teenager Charlotte Harrison showed the importance of taking scoring opportunities.

"Everything the girls worked on in training they executed to a tee," a chuffed Rutledge said.

England put some early heat on but the tide was turning by the time Muirhead put New Zealand ahead after 18 minutes.

From then on, as Rutledge put it, "we pulled them apart".

Muirhead's goal came from a clever penalty corner move. Igasan deliberately drove the ball left of the England goal for Muirhead, who'd taken the corner, to run in unmarked and turn it into the net.

England's Mel Clewlow had a goal disallowed for lifting the ball but after halftime, New Zealand eased clear.

In-form Auckland attacker Forgesson reacted quickest to deflect a low Weavers penalty corner shot into the net seven minutes after the restart. It was her fifth goal of the competition, making her joint leading scorer.

Dillon nudged in another Weavers drive before Harrison rounded off the scoring following strong work by Hollands.

"We'll enjoy the moment then refocus," Rutledge said. "It wouldn't mean much if we go through undefeated but don't make the final."