Spain 3
New Zealand 2
Hard done by late strikes in their previous two outings, there was more heartbreak for the New Zealand men's hockey team as Spain battled back from 1-0 down to eventually win and claim fifth place at the Champions Trophy in Germany last night.
The tournament was won by Australia, who were far too good for England in a lopsided final this morning.
Being handed the wooden spoon was a bitter pill for the Black Sticks who had recovered from their first-up drubbing at the hands of the Australians to show they were far from over-awed in playing the world's best.
The first match on finals day in Monchengladbach - with a 10am start - was played under lights after early morning rain but the conditions did little to dampen the enthusiasm of both teams.
After a couple of half chances at each end, the Black Sticks took the lead in the sixth minute when NZ quickly turned defence into attack with a long defence-splitting ball from Simon Childs picking out Nick Wilson, who deftly turned his marker before unleashing a reverse stick shot low into the far side of the goal.
After three misses from penalty corners and a shot just wide from captain Phil Burrows, New Zealand surrendered their lead four minutes from halftime when, with key defender Dean Couzins sidelined after being smacked in the head by an errant ball from a Spanish stick, the Spaniards won their second penalty corner which Roc Olivia drag-flicked home.
Spain hit the turf running after the break and quickly raced to 3-1 as tardy New Zealand defending allowed captain Santi Frexia a second shot for 2-1 in the 39th minute. Two minutes later Olivia converted from a penalty corner variation.
Down but not out, the Black Sticks continued to battle and were justly rewarded with 17 minutes to play when Towns got the final touch to a well-constructed attack.
A minute later they again had the ball in the Spanish goal only to have what would have been the equaliser ruled out on a technicality.
New Zealand forced another corner late in the match and after it was saved they sought a video referral but were denied and were forced to retreat and save a couple of late Spanish attacks.
The 70-minute effort from the Black Sticks underlined the on-going improvement and showed that had they been at full strength at the World Cup they may well have further up the table.
To play in the wooden spoon match was disappointing for the Black Sticks who later headed to the stands to watch England play Australia in the final aware that victory in their last pool match would have given them that chance and, just as importantly, a guaranteed spot in next year's Champions Trophy.
Against the Britons the New Zealanders again had the heartache of being denied a deserved point by a last-ditch penalty corner in a match in which they came back from 1-3 at halftime to draw level 3-3 as Andy Hayward, charged with the drag flick responsibility in Hayden Shaw's continued absence with a groin injury, converted his third for a hat-trick - the first of the tournament.
It was a second such heartbreaker for the Black Sticks who had controversially been denied a win over Spain in their pool match when the Spaniards won a penalty corner 5secs from time and converted for 4-4.
There was further disappointment in having to watch the bronze match when the Dutch outclassed Germany 4-1 after New Zealand had beaten the Netherlands in pool play.
In the final, Australia were triumphant, thumping England 4-nil.
MEDAL MATCHES - RESULTS:
Final
Australia 4, England 0
Third-Place Playoff
Germany 1, Netherlands 4
Fifth-Place Playoff
Spain 3, New Zealand 2
