Hockey: Japanese show big gap to NZ second string

Japan's Shiho Otsuka and New Zealand's Anna Thorpe vie for the ball. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The yawning gap between the best Black Sticks line-up and the next tier was cruelly exposed as they went down 2-0 to Japan at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium yesterday in the first of five internationals.

National women's coach Mark Hager did not attempt to hide his disappointment at not only the result - just a couple of weeks after a 5-0 clean sweep against Korea - but at the way his team played.

"We were poor. The basics were poor," said Hager. "We can get away playing like that at club level but internationally you will get exposed. And we were. Without seven of our best players we were shown up.

"But it is not entirely the players' fault. It is a product of the system which has left a void in our development. We had players here who were given their chance but the gap between our best and the rest was there to see."

It was a sloppy performance by the Black Sticks in the series opener.

Too much possession given away by inaccurate passing, an inability to trap the ball and a general tardiness across the field underlined the gap between the two sides.

A lack of pace at times further contributed to the home team's downfall, especially in front of goal where the advancing players simply did not throw themselves at the ball in an effort to convert crosses into goals. Japanese goalkeeper Sakiyo Asano had an armchair ride.

Even from the three penalty corners New Zealand won - to the seven the visitors claimed - Asano was not required as the first and third were dragged over the top of her goal by Clarissa Eshuis and the second was not trapped and almost led to a runaway goal at the other end.

After some early New Zealand pressure, the Japanese settled into a rhythm forcing the home team to play deep and with few chances to burst forward.

Sloppy New Zealand defending handed Japan the 33rd minute opening goal when, unchallenged, Misato Katamine was left with an easy finish.

They doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Ai Murakami was left with a simple shot on goal from a penalty corner.

"There is plenty of work to do before the second test," said Hager. "These players need to learn how to step up to be competitive at this level. We weren't smart in a number of areas including getting the ball into the attacking 25. It is back to the video and the drawing board."

International
* New Zealand v Japan (women)
* Second test Hamilton, 3pm tomorrow.
* Third test Hamilton, 7pm Monday.