KEY POINTS:
New Zealand stormed home with three second half goals to beat Japan 3-2 in the third men's hockey test at Mt Maunganui's Blake Park yesterday but still left coach Shane McLeod with plenty to ponder ahead of next month's critical Olympic qualifiers.
The Black Sticks have scored 15 goals in the opening three tests (of four) but disconcertingly have given up nine, and in the second and third matches had to come from behind to win. After a 7-4 romp in Saturday's second test, they led 3-2 at halftime, the home side were rocked yesterday when the visitors opened the scoring with a 14th-minute Yoshihiro Anai field goal. A penalty corner conversion from drag flick specialist Takahiko Yamabori four minutes before halftime gave the Japanese a handy 2-0 advantage.
Far from happy with that, McLeod read the riot act at the break, calling for a greater work-rate upfront and a passing rather than dribbling game in midfield. With the strikers pushing further forward in the second half, the Black Sticks quickly unlocked the Japanese defence. Two strikes from open play - both from Simon Child - in the 46th and 47th minutes had New Zealand level at 2-2 with the Auckland attacker taking his haul for the series to six with two goals in each test.
Bevin Hari scored the winner, also from the field, with 12 minutes to play.
McLeod must name his 18 players for the qualifying tournament today but is unlikely to reveal it until some time after tomorrow's series finale. It seems one player from the 19 who have played against Japan and the earlier Chilean series will miss out.
McLeod had said that by the time of the third Japanese test he would have his likely qualifying starting Xl sorted out. Yesterday he started with Paul Woolford, Blair Hopping, Dean Couzins, Hayden and Brad Shaw, Steve Edwards, Ryan Archibald, Ben Collier, Hari, Phil Burrows and Dave Kosoof and had Child, Andy Hayward, Shea McAleese and Lloyd Stephenson (a late call-up for Gareth Brooks who was feeling out of sorts) on the bench.
Given that second goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex, who played Saturday's test, is a certainty, it seems the unlucky player could be either Stephenson or James Nation who, along with Brooks and Pontifex, sat out yesterday's game.
