Hockey: Black Sticks beat India

Kayla Sharland found the back of the net for the Black Sticks. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand have beaten India 3-0 in their final pool A women's World Cup hockey match at Rosario, Argentina this morning (NZt) but will have to wait for the outcome of a later match between the Netherlands and Japan to learn if they have made the playoffs for seventh and eighth placing.

Japan, currently bottom of pool A with one point from a draw with New Zealand, need to beat pool leaders the Netherlands by three goals to pip New Zealand for fourth place in the group.

The Black Sticks' win was set up by three second half goals after a first half in which India defended stoutly to break New Zealand's attacks in front of the shooting semi-circle.

Star striker Krystal Forgesson, who turned 28 today, was unable to add to her tally of five tournament goals as she was well-marked throughout the match.

New Zealand, who had not a single of the 14 penalty corners they earned from four games earlier, earned their first penalty corner of the match in the 33rd minute but skipper Kayla Sharland's drag flick went wide.

Earlier, a mazy run by Emily Naylor ended with Samantha Harrison shooting wide with a reverse stick shot.

India, who were limited to fast breaking counter-attacks had their best chance when 15-year-old Rani Rampal, the youngest player in the tournament, wriggled free along the end line only to see her smartly taken shot go wide at the far post past a beaten New Zealand goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit.

That was the only shot to beat Jurgeleit who was otherwise her usual dependable self in front of goal.

New Zealand, desperate to give themselves a chance of maintaining their world ranking of seventh and retaining an easier route to the 2012 London Olympics, came out aggressively in the second half.

Sharland and Stacey Michelson put a lock on the midfield and the New Zealand attack began to flow better.

Sharland saw her first shot fended off by Indian goalkeeper Deepika Murthy but made no mistake seconds later with a reverse stick shot for her second goal of the tournament in the 44th minute.

New Zealand took the upper hand from then as the gaps opened in the tiring Indian defence tiring and centre forward Katie Glynn was on hand to deflect a briliant cross from Forgesson seven minute later.

New Zealand finally broke their penalty corner duck in the tournament when Sharland finished their third of the match with a flick high into the net in the 54th minute to break Indian defiance.

- NZPA