Hockey: New Zealand women earn smooth ride to semifinals

MANCHESTER - New Zealand women's hockey team outclassed Canada 3-1 at the Commonwealth Games today to finish top of their pool and earn a smooth semifinal ride.

But the Black Sticks had to defeat their own nerves at the start against the battling Canadian side, who took an early lead and held New Zealand to 1-1 at halftime.

Gradually the New Zealanders' speed and skill put them in command, and by the end the winning margin could have been greater if New Zealand had polished off their chances.

With England having drawn 1-1 against India earlier today, New Zealand needed to beat Canada to finish top of the pool and ensure they would not have to face tournament favourites Australia -- the other pool winner -- until Thursday's final.

In the semifinals on Wednesday New Zealand will meet the winners of a play-off between India, third placed in pool two, and South Africa, who finished second in pool one.

Forward Jaimee Provan, who scored New Zealand's first goal and was also menacing the Canadian defence, said it was a matter of New Zealand sticking to their game plan today to beat some fairly ordinary opposition.

"It was a very nervous game for us because we knew a lot rode on this game. If we'd finished second we knew we'd meet Australia in the semifinals," she said.

"We knew we had to win this game and finish first in the pool.

"But it was the kind of game the girls never felt we were going to lose. I don't know where they're ranked in the world but we're No 5 and we knew we just had to keep that in our heads a little bit."

The New Zealanders' game plan was to work the ball wide and use their speed against some of the bulky and ponderous Canadians. But Provan said the team seemed to forget the plan in the first half.

Canada caught New Zealand off guard with a well executed field goal by Deb Cuthbert in the ninth minute and then swarmed in defence around New Zealand ball carriers.

New Zealand managed to equalise in the 24th minute after three penalty corners in rapid succession. At the third attempt, Diane Weavers blasted a shot which Provan looped into the goal with a deflection.

Late in the first spell New Zealand were breaking the defensive shackles but they could not add to their score until the 40th minute from another penalty corner. Weavers' shot was blocked and replacement forward Niniwa Roberts-Lang put away the loose ball.

Weavers continued to rattle the Canadian defence with her penalty corner shots. But the third goal followed a long corner when Provan worked the ball to Michelle Turner who set up an unmarked Moira Senior to slot the ball past goalkeeper Amy Agulay from close range.

Late in the game New Zealand goalkeeper Anne-Marie Irving pulled off a fine save from Andrea Rushton and Canada squandered two penalty corners with weak, indirect moves. Provan said New Zealand had prepared to counter the moves from watching videos of the Canadians' matches and she was surprised the Canadians did not show more urgency at that stage of the match.

Three players -- two from Canada -- were sinbinned during a physical encounter, as referees continued to be generous in handing out yellow cards at this tournament.

Womens Pool Stages:

Pool 1:

Australia 18 (Jo Banning (2), Louise Dobson (3), Nikki Hudson (3), Bianca Langham Pritchard, Brooke Morrison, Bianca Netzler, Karen Smith (2), Ngaire Smith (4), Julie Towers) Malaysia 0. HT: 8-0

Australia: Louise Dobson, Karen Smith, Ngaire Smith, Bianca Langham Pritchard, Bianca Netzler, Carmel Bakurski, Nina Bonner, Jo Banning, Angie Skirving, Julie Towers, Tammy Cole, Brooke Morrison, Rachel Imison, Melanie Twitt, Katrina Powell, Nikki Hudson

Malaysia: Siti Azura Yusuf, Catherine Lambor, Sebah Kari, Ayu Afnida Hamdani, Nurhafizah Azman, Mizawati Bakri, Nor Saliza Soobni, Chitra Devi Arumugam, Kannagi Arumugam, Nadia Abdul Rahman, Nurfaraha Hashim, Intan Nurairah Ahmad Khusaini, Roslizawati Rasidi, Angela Kais, Lisa Ludong, Khairunnisah Kamaruzaman

Scotland 1 (Rhona Simpson) South Africa 4 (Pietie Coetzee (2), Johke Koornhof, Jennifer Wilson). HT: 0:1

Scotland: Tracey Robb, Louise Gordon, Audrey Longmuir, Claire Lampard, Sue Macdonald, Rhona Simpson, Alison Grant, Linda Clement, Emma Rochlin, Valerie Thomson, Susan Gilmour, Debbie Mcleod, Helen Walker, Jane Burley, Kathryn Gray, Samantha Judge

South Africa: Caroline Birt, Johanna Van Zijl, Anli Kotze, Sophie Mayer, Lindsey Carlisle, Kerry Bee, Pietie Coetzee, Jennifer Wilson, Luntu Ntloko, Melinda Vos, Susan Wessels, Natalie Haynes, Marsha Marescia, Johke Koornhof, Bronwyn Ross, Grazjyna Engelbrecht

Pool 2:

England 1 (Jennie Bimson) India 1 (Suman Bala Saini). HT: 1-1

England: Jennie Bimson, Sarah Blanks, Mel Clewlow, Helen Grant, Leisa King, Mandy Nicholson, Helen Richardson, Hils Rose, Jane Smith, Kate Walsh, Cilla Wright, Anna Bennett, Carolyn Reid, Rachel Walker, Frances Houslop, Jo Ellis

India: Tingongleima Chanu Kshetrimayum, Amandeep Kaur, Suman Bala Saini, Surja Lata Devi Waikhom, Sita Gussain, Sumrai Tete, Pritam Siwach, Mamta Kharab, Jyoti Sunita Kullu, Manjinder Kaur, Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu Maimom, Helen Mary Innocent, Surin Masira, Ngasepam Pakpi Devi, Kanti Baa, Saba Anjum

New Zealand 3 (Jaimee Provan, Niniwa Roberts-lang, Moira Senior) Canada 1 (Deb Cuthbert). HT: 1-1

New Zealand: Moira Senior, Paula Enoka, Sandy Bennett, Rachel Sutherland, Jaimee Provan, Suzie Pearce, Anne-Marie Irving, Caryn Paewai, Diana Weavers, Tara Drysdale, Colleen Gubb-Suddaby, Michelle Turner, Helen Clarke, Amanda Christie, Niniwa Roberts-Lang, Rachel Robertson

Canada: Lisa Faust, Deb Cuthbert, Jenny Johnson, Sue Tingley, Aoibhinn Grimes, Julia Wong, Kristen Taunton, Stephanie Jameson, Meggan Hunt, Andrea Rushton, Amy Agulay, Emily Rix, Sarah Forbes, Kelly Rezansoff, Stephanie Hume, Rebecca Price

Pool leaders Australia and New Zealand gain direct entry into the semi-finals.

India play South Africa and England take on Scotland in Wednesday's play-offs to determine the other semi-finalists.

- NZPA

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