Hockey: Netherlands shut out Black Sticks

By TERRY MADDAFORD


The Black Sticks slumped to a predictable 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in their third match at the Champions Trophy in Argentina yesterday, but coach Ian Rutledge is confident his team can grab a top-four finish.

"There are still six points up for grabs," Rutledge said after the match. "While we will go as hard as we can to get them, I do not want to be too results-focused.

"In today's game we could have closed up shop and attempted to minimise the loss, but that would not do us any good."

New Zealand absorbed a lot of early pressure and did not concede until the 20th minute when, from their third penalty corner, goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit pushed the ball from her glove on to Di Weavers. As it dropped, Fatima Moreira de Melo was on hand to push home.

Seven minutes later, after the New Zealand midfield had given away possession, the ball was played deep to Kim Lammers, who caught Jurgeleit by surprise, firing a shot between her pads and beating a despairing Weavers' effort to keep it out.

New Zealand had some good opportunities to close the gap early in the second spell, but their sustained pressure was not turned into goals.

Eventually the Dutch went 3-0 ahead when they fed the ball to Maartje Scheepstra, who fired high into the New Zealand goal.

Sheree Phillips and Jurgeleit did well, but could do little as turned-over ball gave the Dutch wave after wave of attacking opportunities.

Just seconds from time, Lammers scored her second with a drag flick from a penalty corner.

In other third-round games, Australia were beaten 5-1 by Argentina to remain on the bottom of the table, and China went down 2-1 to Germany to remain with New Zealand on one point.

New Zealand play Olympic champions Germany in the early game tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to that game with some confidence," Rutledge said. "They don't do anything special, but have obviously taken some confidence from winning the gold medal in Athens.

"As the youngest team here and ranked sixth-best of six, any result we can get is above expectations. We have had a few injuries - I don't know if Lizzy [Igasan] will play again at the tournament - and a couple of players have been hit by a virus."

In the other games tomorrow, China meet Australia and leaders Netherlands clash with Argentina.