Hockey: Japanese are coming for a three-test warmup

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The New Zealand men's team are to play a three-test home series against Japan before September's crucial Oceania Olympic qualifier against Australia.

It is understood the Japanese, ranked within a couple of places of New Zealand (depending on the result of this morning's bronze medal match against South Africa at the Champions Challenge), are keen to play here as part of their build-up to next year's Olympic qualifying tournament in Madrid.

New Zealand meet Australia in the first of the three-test Oceania qualifiers in Christchurch on September 17.

In beating England 4-0 in their final pool game at the Champions Challenge, New Zealand remain in the world's top 10. Victory over the hosts would take them to ninth in the world.

But for the disappointing 1-1 draw with Malaysia, New Zealand would have qualified for the gold medal match. They went through pool play with just one loss, to tournament favourites Spain, who scored the winner three seconds from time and emerged with the best defensive record, conceding just five goals in as many games.

After beating England with goals from Phil Burrows (in the ninth and 40th minutes), Hayden Shaw (12th minute), and Bevan Hari (59th minute), New Zealand needed Malaysia to draw or beat Korea to make the final, but Korea won 5-2. In the last pool match Spain beat South Africa 1-0. Goalkeeper Paul Woolford again played very well.

Stand-in coach Charlie Oscroft had a full complement of players for the playoff with South Africa, whom they had beaten 2-1 in pool play.