Hockey: Hager plan works perfectly

Never one to leave things to chance, Black Sticks coach Mark Hager had every reason to be confident when the winner-takes-all Oceania Cup final against Australia in Invercargill went to a penalty stroke shootout.

A week earlier in Dunedin Hager put the national women's side out against an Otago under-18 boys team in two warm-up matches. At the end of both he chose to have full-on penalty stroke deciders - just in case.

"And that's how it worked out," said a delighted Hager after the new-look and still inexperienced New Zealand team prevailed over his homeland to book direct entry to the World Cup in Argentina next year.

"When it went to strokes we had it all preplanned.... They knew the order they were going to take them and Beth [goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit] knew what to expect from each of the Australians as they stepped forward."

There were some strong games from the New Zealanders with Jurgeleit leading the way. Kate Mahon battled well, especially when she returned after dislocating her shoulder 10 minutes into the game.

The experience Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor brought was obvious and Ella Gunson and Clarissa Eshuis were solid.

Casey Eastham gave Australia the lead late in the first spell when she converted their eight penalty corner. Megan Rivers stretched the lead to 2-0 in the 43rd minute but the Black Sticks replied when Eshuis drag-flicked home from a penalty corner. Sharland converted a disputed penalty stroke in the 58th minute to send the game to extra time.

Australia failed to convert further penalty corner opportunities and had to defend desperately to send the game to a shootout. After Eastham missed a crucial stroke, Mahon stepped forward to slot the winner.