Hockey: Black Sticks top table with win

New Zealand's improved fitness is starting to show as they beat Spain to sit on top of the table at the women's Champions Challenge hockey tournament in the United States yesterday.

The 3-0 win over the Spaniards put the Black Sticks in pole position to make Sunday's final of the six-team event with seven points, one ahead of South Africa and Japan, who have a game in hand and face each other in a crunch match today.

And coach Ian Rutledge was delighted with the quality of the performance, which he attributes partly to conditioning.

The game was played in 36C temperatures at Virginia Beach, Virginia, and high humidity.

"Conditions were very tough today, but our girls are physically stronger than they've ever been," Rutledge told the Herald last night.

"It showed today. We are a much fitter team than we were at the Olympics in Athens last year, and come March next year at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne we'll be fitter again."

All three goals came from penalty corners, two scored by Lizzy Igasan and one by captain Suzie Muirhead.

Rutledge said the team had several chances from open play in what he termed "a dominant, powerful display".

The win follows a 1-1 draw with England and a 2-1 win over the US.

The Black Sticks have a rest day today.

Rutledge believes the signs are all good for New Zealand, with the Commonwealth Games and World Cup next year in mind.

"The core of this team has been together over two years and every tournament we're getting better. It's great to have these little checkpoints along the way to measure ourselves," he said.

"We are making all the right noises in the right areas."

The winner of this event goes to the Champions Trophy for the world's top six nations next year.

The Challenge Trophy is for teams ranked No 7-12, but world No 6 New Zealand are in it because they were relegated from the trophy last year.

The winner is promoted to the trophy competition next year. New Zealand play South Africa tomorrow and Japan on Saturday.