Hockey: Late Indian rally snatches a draw

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Two late goals enabled India to fight back for a 2-2 draw with the New Zealand men's team in last night's second test at Ashburton.

In what assistant coach Charlie Oscroft saw as a step up from Saturday's first test - won 3-2 by New Zealand at Dunedin - the home team again did well against the seventh-ranked team in the world.

"They put us under pressure in the second half but overall it was probably about 50-50 in possession," said Oscroft.

"Things got a bit heated at one stage with the Indians receiving two yellow cards."

New Zealand, ranked 16th in the world, went ahead early when Ryan Archibald swooped to take the ball away from the Indian goalkeeper's feet to score.

The home side held that one-goal advantage at halftime and went further ahead after the break.

Hymie Gill scored with a direct flick from a penalty corner.

The Indians scored twice in the last 10 minutes from penalty corners - the first from a direct flick, the second from a deflection.

"They scored from different penalty corner options than they used in the first test," said Oscroft.

"They might have now shown us their penalty corner options, which could be to our advantage when we get to play them at the World Cup qualifiers in Edinburgh."

New Zealand again took full advantage of the rolling substitutions, with all players getting game time.

The match, played in crisp temperatures in front of a good crowd, was played earlier than usual - at 5 pm - to avoid the threat of icy conditions which could have made the water-based surface unplayable.

Dean Couzins again played well at right back and worked well with Dion Gosling at left back.

Auckland's Brett Leaver will join the team in Wellington today.

Coach Kevin Towns will have further defensive options for Thursday's third test at the national hockey centre at Mt Albert Park.

Dharmesh Puna will come in for Gill in the remaining tests.