Hockey: Honours even in series opener

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand and Japan shared the honours with a 1-1 draw in the first game of the women's tri-series at Rosedale Park, Albany, last night.

While a fair reflection on the merits of both teams, it was a game which rarely rose to any great heights.

New Zealand coach Jan Borren will obviously be looking for something better when the Black Sticks meet Argentina at Lloyd Elsmore Park this afternoon.

In their first outing for some time, there was a disconcerting hesitancy in the New Zealand effort, with some hurried, and at times, aimless passing.

Against a team ranked several places below them on the international ladder, the home team would have expected something better.

They have the chance to do that today in their last game before heading to the World Cup.

From the outset it was a dour midfield battle, with both teams surrendering possession as they struggled to string passes together on the wet, holding surface.

The visitors asserted much of the early pressure and continued to hold a territorial advantage for the first 35-minute spell.

Pressing striker Kaori Chiba forward at times contributed to the New Zealand defence being caught flat. Their task was made easier, however, by Chiba's failure to trap cleanly.

Sakae Morimoto had an early chance, but was denied by goalkeeper Anne-Marie Irving, who reacted quickly in getting down to smother.

Irving, given a start ahead of 100-test veteran Helen Clarke, did well in pulling off two or three crucial saves.

After the Rachel Sutherland-Amanda Christie double-act went close in the sixth minute, with Christie just failing in her diving attempt, they made no mistake 13 minutes later.

Sutherland split the Japanese defence with a good ball. Christie, on the edge of the circle, did well to control before turning and breaking wide to angle home a well-struck shot.

Given the midfield battle, it was little surprise the first of only three first-half corners was not awarded until the 21st minute.

From the set play, Niniwa Roberts-Lang beat Nami Miyazaki in the Japanese goal, but the effort was dismissed with the ball ruled too high.

At the other end, Chiba again worked in behind defenders Sandy Bennett and Paula Enoka, but could not control the ball.

Both teams had late first-half penalty corners which were eventually cleared.

With Japan down to 10 players early in the second spell after Naoko Saito was yellow-carded, and again later when she was sent packing for a second time, New Zealand had opportunities to increase their lead but rarely threatened.

It was the under-strength visitors who scored in the 59th minute when Tomomi Komori swept the ball home after it had rebounded from Irving's pads. Piki Hamahona, Michelle Turner and Hamahona went close for New Zealand in the dying minutes.