Hockey: Chinese slip in late for a draw

By Terry Maddaford

A lapse in concentration cost the New Zealand women's Academy hockey team victory over China at Rangitoto College yesterday.

The home side, ahead 1-0 with a well-worked penalty corner late in the first half, looked set for victory as they held the slick Chinese at bay for all but the last 90s of the game.

Taking their chance after a concerted period on attack, the visitors scored through midfielder Cai Xuemei when she was unmarked.

It was a bold showing by both teams. China, ranked in the top dozen in the world were fresh from victory over Spain in the play-off for third place in a four-team tournament in Australia.

The local side were pitched together this week and had only one game against the full New Zealand side on Monday (won 1-0 by the national Xl).

Yesterday's game, in which Meredith Orr scored the 35th minute opening goal after a penalty corner in which she hit out and then gathered the return before pushing home, marked the return to international hockey for centurion Tina Bell-Kake.

The former New Zealand attacker, who played a deeper, but nevertheless effective midfield role, showed her vision and class with some well-worked inter changes.

Other former New Zealand players Toni Mason and, in particular, captain Jenny Shepherd, showed out while youngsters Jaimee Provan and Lizzy Igasen lost little in the comparison with their more experienced team-mates.

While the Chinese showed their preference for a short-passing, quick-breaking game, they lacked real strength in front of goal and rarely threatened to score.

China will play the first of three tests against New Zealand - ranked fifth in the world - tomorrow night at Balsam Stadium, Lloyd Elsmore Park.