Hockey: Comeback bodes well for Towns

Hockey Black Sticks 3 Canada 3

When the Black Sticks went two goals down against Canada three-quarters of the way into yesterday's first test, it looked like their final Commonwealth Games preparation was coming off the rails.

However the match finished with just the sort of comeback the side may need to win a medal in Melbourne.

The Black Sticks dominated possession throughout the first half at Pakuranga's Lloyd Elsmore Stadium, but squandered several scoring opportunities.

Hayden Shaw got New Zealand back into the match with a 54th-minute strike, four minutes after Canada's second goal, a softish effort from the field scored by Michael Lee, which followed a penalty corner conversion seven minutes earlier.

Shaw nailed his attempt low into the left-hand corner to bring the score back to 1-2. Two minutes later, Simon Child turned deftly to tip home, from close range, a good ball into the circle from Blair Hopping to tie the test at 2-2.

Canada went ahead again three minutes from fulltime, converting a free hit from outside the circle, which somehow bobbled through the New Zealand defence, allowing Connor Grimes to score his second.

With seconds to go, Child forced a final corner. The fulltime hooter blasted and Shaw was left to play out the final set piece. He dramatically slotted his second goal from four attempts to again level the game.

"It certainly won't have done us any harm to go so close," said coach Kevin Towns.

"I think we were probably a bit gentle on them. We did the running but it wasn't always effective. It was also disappointing to create so many opportunities and not take advantage of them."

New Zealand will play Canada again today in the second and final test, also at Lloyd Elsmore Stadium.

New Zealand 3 (Hayden Shaw 2, Simon Child)
Canada 3 (Connor Grimes 2, Michael Lee 1)
 HT: 0-0.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY