Hockey: Borren upbeat despite hidings

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Despite watching his team cop hidings in their last two tests against Australia and a 4-0 series loss overall, New Zealand women's coach Jan Borren is not despairing.

"Today we got done," Borren said after his team went down 5-0 yesterday after trailing 4-0 at halftime.

They lost the first of two Sydney tests 4-0 on Saturday after holding the home side to 0-0 in the first half.

"Certainly I'm disappointed," he said. "Australia are very good. The team they played here was stronger and more experienced than the one who played the first two tests in Melbourne."

New Zealand held the Australians to one-goal defeats in those first two tests, coming back from 4-0 down in the second to lose only 4-3.

"We have learned from this tour that we are not fit enough and by today's test we were struggling physically and mentally," Borren said. "But overall it has been a worthwhile exercise.

"The Australians are playing a different style of hockey now than they did under Ric Charlesworth. We reacted rather than anticipated. The ball kept coming back.

"But having said that, I thought we stood up a bit better in the second half today and had a couple of opportunities.

"It is always disappointing when you don't score."

Borren, who next year takes the Black Sticks to the Champions Trophy (top six nations), Commonwealth Games and World Cup, said he feels New Zealand are still among the best six in the world.

"Australia, Holland and Argentina are the teams to beat, but I feel if we work really hard we can hold our own.

"They have potential and the ability to be an exciting team."

He singled out up-and-coming left back Lizzy Igasan, Carol Ward, who showed good touches on the ball, Melody Rowe, goalkeeper Anne-Marie Irving, Suzie Pearce, Michelle Turner, Jaimee Provan and Moira Senior as players who showed out on the eight-match tour.

The players will now work on carefully monitored programmes, with the initial emphasis on fitness.