Hockey: NZ suffer blow with loss to England

New Zealand's Commonwealth Games men's hockey medal hopes took a dive with a 3-4 loss to England in their tournament opener today.

Ranked No 9 in the world to England's No 11, the Black Sticks now probably need to beat Australia in their final pool match to reach the medal rounds.

New Zealand scored goals to Bevan Hari, Hayden Shaw and Blair Hopping, the last of them in injury time, but were also unlucky, with Phil Burrows and Shaw hitting the post.

Goalkeeper Paul Woolford kept New Zealand in the game when he saved a penalty stroke from Simon Mantell 10 minutes from fulltime, but England scored their fourth soon afterwards to clinch it.

England were quicker and more dangerous on attack thanks to the brilliance of Barry Middleton, who played a role in all four goals.

Mantell and Matthew Daly scored two goals apiece.

New Zealand's next match is against Canada tomorrow.

- NZPA