Hockey: Black Sticks must work harder after third loss

Mark Hager coach of the Black Sticks. Photo / Natalie Slade

The Black Sticks women's team have lost their third consecutive build-up game to next week's Champions Trophy in Argentina and coach Mark Hager has concluded they aren't working hard enough.

The 2-0 defeat by Great Britain in the Four Nations challenge in Cordoba, Argentina, overnight (Sat/Sun NZT), follows New Zealand's 7-3 thrashing by Argentina and a 6-4 loss to South Korea.

While the Black Sticks could still achieve a placing - they will play-off for third and fourth against South Korea tomorrow morning - their performances ahead of a Champions Trophy tournament in which they finished third last year are concerning.

"We're just not working hard enough at the moment," Hager said. "The 'one per centers' aren't coming off at the moment. I know we haven't had luck coming our way but you make your own luck and we're not working for it."

The British team have been the form outfit of the tournament, with victories over South Korea and Argentina heading into the match against New Zealand and they scored both of their goals from penalty corners.

While Hager said his side were better defensively, the performance wouldn't have given him much confidence ahead of their first Champions Trophy match against Argentina in Rosario on Sunday.

He told the Herald on Sunday before the Great Britain game that he felt other nations had moved ahead of New Zealand, who are ranked sixth in the world.

"We had a great year [in 2011] but at the moment it feels like other teams have moved on and we have plateaued a bit," Hager said. "It has certainly been a huge wake-up call and, to their credit, the girls have been quite harsh on themselves. They are hurting, too."

He added: "There is a lack of cohesion and understanding. We are scoring goals which is a plus but defensively we have capitulated in both second halves. It is disappointing and well below the standards we have set for ourselves."

Mitigating factors included rustiness and a rotation of players in the opening games but Hager wouldn't offer excuses.

"Plain and simple, we've been poor on defence: poor basic skills, inability to tackle and lack of patience which has led to diving in and conceding needless penalty corners."