Hockey: Black Sticks promise to atone

The Black Sticks have been handed a chance to wipe out a bitter Commonwealth Games memory when they play England in tonight's semifinals of the men's World Cup qualifying tournament in China.

Beaten 4-3 in their first game in Melbourne by the English, the Black Sticks were left to play catch-up and never recovered, finishing fifth.

They go into tonight's game determined to put that behind them and to also win through to Sunday's final.

New Zealand booked the short route to September's World Cup in Germany by beating Malaysia 4-2 in their last pool match on Wednesday night, avoiding the four-team group of death from which only one team will win through.

"Finally some things have started to go our way," said coach Kevin Towns yesterday. "It was some comfort going into the game with the knowledge that France had been beaten by Japan, but we still had to win to make the top four.

"England aren't the best team here, so we have a chance. We have looked back on that game in Melbourne and realise we had our opportunities but some bits were pretty shocking."

Towns rates Korea and Pakistan (the other semifinalists) as the best teams in China, and would not be too concerned if New Zealand got through to play Pakistan in the final.

"No one seems to know what's going on with them. They are in a shambles, with some players we would have expected to see not here, including Sohail Abbas, who is playing club hockey in Europe."

Against Malaysia, New Zealand fell behind in the 13th minute when Ahmad Tenghu scored. Within four minutes it was locked 1-1 when Lloyd Stephenson scored. A minute before halftime, Simon Towns found the top of the net with a deft deflection for a 2-1 lead.

Hayden Shaw increased that four minutes after the break with a drag flick, only his second success of the tournament, but the Malaysians replied in a like manner eight minutes later to close to 3-2.

The tension of the last few minutes was broken in the 65th minute when Bevan Hari pounced on a dreadful back pass to hammer home.

Towns has stuck with much the same lineup throughout, which has meant no game time for late call-ups Shaun Barnett and Hamish Baron.

Tonight's semifinal is at 8.30 (NZ time) and the final at 2pm on Sunday.