Hockey: Black Sticks miss chance at bronze

The New Zealand women's hockey team finished a disappointing fourth in the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup tournament in New Delhi.

Despite totally dominating the third-fourth play-off against Italy, the Black Sticks were beaten 2-1 after trailing 2-0 at halftime.

The statistics told one story, the final result another.

New Zealand had 42 circle penetrations, Italy 10. New Zealand had 24 shots on goal, Italy four. New Zealand won 13 penalty corners (and converted none), Italy 2 (and converted both).

Those two successes by Faustini Francesca dashed New Zealand's bronze medal hopes. Italy went into the tournament ranked 23rd in the world compared with New Zealand's sixth.

The Black Sticks had a chance to get something from the game when Kayla Sharland deflected home from a Sheree Phillips free hit four minutes into the second spell but could not add to that.

The final was a tight affair with Australia and India level 2-2 at fulltime. Extra time failed to break the deadlock and Australia eventually took the honours 3-1 on strokes.

New Zealand had held Australia to 0-0 in their opening match of the tournament, which was being held for the first time in nine years.