Hockey: Black Sticks grab place in Champions Trophy

Black Sticks goalie Kyle Pontifex was named the goalkeeper of the tournament. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Yesterday's 4-2 win over Pakistan in the Champions Challenge men's hockey final has sealed New Zealand's status as a world-class team, coach Shane McLeod says.

The victory in Argentina qualified the team for a place in next year's elite six-nation Champions Trophy in Monchengladbach, Germany.

With the scores tied 2-2 at halftime after goals from midfielder Ryan Archibald and captain Phillip Burrows, the Black Sticks were forced to fight hard in the second half.

They were rewarded for their work with two goals in quick succession, 19-year-old striker Nick Wilson scoring in the 65th minute and Burrows finding the back of the net for a second time a minute later.

"It probably wasn't as we scripted, because we had to defend a lot in that second half, but to get two goals towards the end - and good goals - we were really happy," McLeod said.

"The first half we could have made the game a little bit easier. I thought there were things we weren't doing so well defensively and that was adding a bit more pressure.

"Then they started to apply even more pressure on top of that so for large periods we were just camped out in our 25, and that's not really the style we wanted to play."

McLeod said it was pleasing to see the team up their attack and get their justdeserts.

"It needed something more aggressive and when we got those last two goals they came from quite aggressive play."

Goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex's efforts - stopping six of seven Pakistan penalty attempts - were acknowledged when he was named the goalkeeper of the tournament.

Next year's Champions Trophy will be the first for New Zealand since 2005 and the first with McLeod in charge.

- NZPA