Hockey: Failure to score hits hard

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The New Zealand hockey side's hopes of playing next year's Champions Trophy ended with an undignified 3-0 loss to China in yesterday's play-off for fifth place.

Needing a win against the team they had drawn 1-1 with early in the tournament at Argentina's Rosario Jockey Club, the Black Sticks struggled and trailed 0-2 at halftime.

They picked their game up after the break to dominate possession and the penalty corner count but failed to convert any of their eight second-half shots or six penalty corners.

It was the inability to score which cost the team dearly.

In six matches they scored only three goals while conceding 19.

But looking back at their year, Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel handed Ian Rutledge and his team a pass mark.

"We came away from our last major tournament, the 2002 World Cup, ranked 10th," Patel said.

"This year we qualified well for the Olympics and went on to finish sixth and win a place at the Champions Trophy."

At the Olympic qualifying tournament in March, New Zealand beat eventual Olympic champions Germany 3-2 to finish third.

Patel said the team's programme remained uncertain until a meeting next month.

Originally there were no plans for the women to play at next year's Champions Challenge tournament in the United States in July but Patel said that might be revisited.

"It might be Ian's preference to play that tournament as part of the build-up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games," Patel said.

"Victory at the Virginia Beach tournament would guarantee a place in the 2006 Champions Trophy, from which the top five teams qualify for the next World Cup."

Patel said a four-test home series was also planned next April. Invitations have already been turned down by Japan and Great Britain but Germany remain a possibility.

In their last match in Argentina, New Zealand fell behind after 17 minutes when Wang Yanhui scored from China's third penalty corner.

Thirteen minutes later, from another short corner, Ma Yibo converted for 2-0.

A third goal, again from a penalty corner, scored by Zhou Wanfeng after 56 minutes ended any New Zealand hopes.

The Black Sticks won five penalty corners in the dying minutes, but were unable to convert.

A goal in each half got the Netherlands home 2-0 over Germany in the final. In the play-off for third Argentina, a goal down after six minutes, fought back to beat Australia 3-2.

Next year's Champions Trophy - with Korea replacing New Zealand - will be held in Canberra in November and December.