Hockey: Coach happy as Roberts goal gives commanding series lead

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A 1-0 second test win over India last night, in a game interrupted for almost half an hour when Rosedale Park was plunged into darkness, has given the New Zealand women's hockey team a decisive 2-0 series lead.

The only goal came late in the first half from a penalty corner, but the home team's success in scoring from only one of the 13 short corners they won kept the visitors in the game.

"Obviously, that conversion rate is not good enough," said New Zealand coach Jan Borren afterwards.

"We will spend time on that between now and the remaining tests, but we really haven't had time to work on the combinations.

"Overall, I felt it was a very good performance and a real step up from what they showed on Monday. The buildup was excellent and I felt it was a very polished effort."

From the outset, New Zealand took the initiative seizing every opportunity to turn defence into attack and turn their markers. Player of the match Meredith Orr was a dominant part of that.

Not surprisingly, Mandy Smith came in for more than her share of attention from the Indian defence. In dragging players to mark her, gaps opened but the home side were unable to exploit the extra space that created.

On a couple of occasions Smith, switching from right wing to a more central attacking position, looked set to break through, only to be halted by some dubious defensive play including having her stick wrenched from her hands.

The home side, again well-led by captain Sandy Bennett who had a strong game in her sometimes roving defensive role, always appeared in control but without ever taking complete control.

Leisen Jobe, too, had a forceful game, getting back to provide defensive cover while Anna Lawrence played her typical all-round game at centre half in providing the link between defence and attack.

It was not until the fifth of the five penalty corners New Zealand got in the first half, in the 28th minute, they scored.

Suzie Pearce dragged and Niniwa Roberts, who scored two from field play in her debut in Whangarei on Monday, hit home, the ball taking a slight deflection from Indian captain and goalkeeper Tingolaeeinma Chanu.

Pearce had an opportunity to increase that halftime lead early in the second spell, but in a one-on-one with Chanu her shot went wide of the gaping goal.

Minutes later, the ball was in the back of the Indian goal but that was disallowed as the umpire, with little advantage, blew for a penalty corner - one of five forced by New Zealand in the opening 12 minutes of the second spell.

The reluctance of the Indians to play with any width and their preference to hit the ball into the attacking quarter and look for deflections rather than dribble at the defence meant the New Zealanders were rarely under pressure.

The long break midway through the second spell brought renewed life to the home team's effort, but they were unable to turn that pressure into goals.

Borren does not expect to do too many things differently in the games in Auckland and Hamilton on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

"We did a lot of good things, especially in getting the ball forward. There is no need to change too much. I thought we looked a lot sharper tonight than we did in the first test, but then so too did India, who have had a chance to recover from their trip here."