Hockey: Defence anchors test win

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A workmanlike New Zealand men's hockey team drew first blood in their four-test series against Malaysia with a well-deserved 1-0 win at Rosedale Park in Albany yesterday.

The visitors, ranked six places higher on the international ladder than New Zealand's 17th, rarely threatened to break down a solid rearguard effort made to look even easier by the Malaysians' reluctance to push players forward.

The home side applied much of the early pressure with Umesh Parag and Phillip Burrows - denied the goal he wanted to celebrate his 21st birthday - leading the attack.

But given the visitor's defensive strategy - led by Maninderjit Singh (playing his 197th test) and Gobinathan Krishnamurthy - it was never easy.

Playing to the distinctively German strategy of their new coach Paul Lissek, Malaysia were content to play a "back-and-around" style with a long passing game which at times brought goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin into play.

That ploy to draw the New Zealand players forward before looking to counterattack enjoyed only moderate success as they remained reluctant to commit players forward or wide.

The home side won a couple of penalty corners after 15 minutes but did not threaten and had another chance from a third in the 23rd minute after Mitesh Patel played a good ball in to David Kasoof, who tangled with Jamaluddin.

The Malaysians, from the second of only three penalty corners they won, went close in the 29th minute when Suhaimi Ibrahim hit the post.

Early in the second spell Ibrahim went wide and that was just about it for the Malaysians, who found the well-organised New Zealand defence a handful.

New Zealand were justly rewarded after 54 minutes when Bevan Hari capped a strong game by setting up the only goal.

Winning the ball from a hard-won back tackle, Hari beat three challenges before playing the ball to Parag, who hit his first-time shot between Jamaluddin's legs.

Kasoof went close in the 60th minute, but his diving attempt could only drag the ball back across the face of the goal.

New Zealand coach Kevin Towns was happy with the victory - apart from his team's none-from-seven penalty corner effort - and the efforts of his players on debut.

"I would rate it seven out of 10, which is not bad when you take into account the time we gave the young players," said Towns. "The German style of absorb and counterattack is different and one we had to come to grips with. The game did not open up. But we have to be happy."

Lissek was disappointed with the result but said the "strong, aggressive, never-give-in New Zealand style" was different for his players and one they would be looking to counter in the remaining tests.

The second test will be played at Innes Common in Hamilton at 7 pm tonight.