Hockey: Black Sticks beat Belgium in second warm-up

The New Zealand men's hockey team beat Belgium 3-2 in their second World Cup warm-up in Belgium today.

Manager Kevin Marr said their performance was a little down on yesterday when they beat the Belgians 7-0.

"We were a little off our game, our basic error rate was higher than yesterday, but the Belgians also stepped up," Marr said.

He said Belgium included four national under-21 players who were fit and gave the side more speed.

The Black Sticks scored in the third minute through Simon Child. The young Aucklander hammered the ball reverse stick into the roof of the goal from a 45 degree angle after a nice interchange with captain Ryan Archibald.

The Belgians equalised through a drag-flick penalty corner in the 25th minute.

Experienced midfielder Mitesh Patel put New Zealand ahead again in the 30th minute, working the ball into the circle and scoring from a solid shot from the edge.

New Zealand's third goal came 11 minutes into the second half, when the Belgians left Blair Hopping unmarked at the top of the circle. He struck home with a strong shot.

Belgium scored from another penalty corner drag-flick with about 10 minutes remaining, but despite being awarded several late penalty corners, could not gain the equaliser.

The New Zealanders will now train for a week in Antwerp. Their next warm-up match is against South Africa on August 31.

The World Cup starts in Germany on September 6.

- NZPA