KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand women's hockey team lost 5-2 to China in Hong Kong overnight, but it was a much better result than when the teams last met, coach Kevin Towns says.
The match was the Black Sticks' second in a quadrangular tournament in Hong Kong.
China was up 3-0 at halftime.
In the second half Lizzy Igasan scored, then Jaimee Claxton got a field goal.
The match finished at 5-2, with the Chinese scoring their final goal from a corner after the final buzzer.
Towns said last time the teams met it was "an absolute hiding", with the Chinese women scoring eight goals, so the Black Sticks were moving in the right direction.
"We can take a lot from it," he told NZPA.
"We hit the post in the first half, early on in the game at nil all, so we're starting to penetrate the opposition circle so that's got to be good, because we've been struggling."
The New Zealanders lost their opening match in the tournament 6-0 against Korea on Tuesday night.
Towns said the team performed much better against the Chinese.
" A much better result and on the pitch a far better game."
The team now have a training day before facing India on Friday night.
The tournament is part of the team's build up for the Oceania Cup in Buderim, Australia, starting on September 11.
- NZPA
