Hockey: Aussies big hurdle for Black Sticks in Cup medal shot

Anita Punt (left) of the Black Sticks. Photo / APN

Australia stand between New Zealand and their ambition of a World Cup medal in The Hague tonight.

The transtasman rivals clash in their final pool A round robin women's game. Victory by any margin should put NZ into the hockey cup semifinals, the only impediment will be if hosts the Netherlands - top seeds, unbeaten and world No1 - lose to Korea in their last game tonight, which is highly unlikely.

If things go wrong, fifth-ranked New Zealand will reflect bitterly on a 1-0 defeat in their second pool game against the Koreans, a game they had targeted for victory last week.

"That could come back and bite us in the bum," New Zealand coach Mark Hager said of the Korean loss.

Their 4-1 win over Japan yesterday reignited their prospects, with midfield dynamo Anita Punt scoring twice, and strikers Sophie Cocks and Katie Glynn once each in a game the Black Sticks dominated.

Emily Naylor had persistent problems in trapping the ball on a bobbly surface which hamstrung their ambitions for a sizeable win.

As it is, they shared a plus-1 goal difference with the fourth-ranked Australians, who have rattled in nine goals in their last two internationals against the Black Sticks. However, New Zealand certainly won't fear their closest rivals.

Argentina and the United States led pool B before games early today with seven points each.