Hockey: New Zealand continue dominance over Japan

9.00am - By CHRIS BARCLAY

SYDNEY - The New Zealand women's hockey team regrouped impressively following a first up defeat by Olympic champions Australia, beating Japan 3-1 in Darwin last night.

The Black Sticks continued their recent dominance over Japan, who are in New Zealand's pool in Athens, with a strong second half performance carrying them to an ultimately comfortable victory at the Vodafone Hockey Centre.

"It was their Olympic team and it's the fourth time we've beaten them this year," coach Ian Rutledge enthused after the final whistle.

"It may give us a psychological edge but the downside is you get a little complacent and assume you're going to win.

"We need to make sure we stay objective."

New Zealand defeated Japan 3-1 in a home test series in February and will play them a final time before Greece in Townsville when the pre-Olympic tournament shifts to Townsville next week.

Rutledge was impressed with the Black Sticks revival after a 3-6 loss to Australia on Wednesday night.

"We were very good and quite dominant for the opening 20 minutes although we lost a bit of shape and direction. We were a lot more aggressive in the second half."

Midfielder Meredith Orr opened the scoring in the third minute with a neatly taken field goal.

Sakae Morimoto equalised near halftime with a deflected shot but striker Niniwa Roberts-Lang restored the Black Sticks buffer midway through the second spell, sweeping home a penalty corner.

Inexperienced midfielder Stacey Carr, playing just her 17th international, sealed the win with a sweetly struck field goal with 15 minutes remaining.

"Stacey had a monumental impact. It's good for her, she's been on the edge of a good performance and she went very well."

Carr, 20, played 40 minutes as Rutledge continued his policy of rotating his midfield options.

Rachael Sutherland continued her comeback from a back injury with strong back-to-back performances in midfield.

New Zealand next face the Australian Institute of Sport tomorrow (1930NZT). Although the AIS results have no bearing on the tournament's outcome, Rutledge said he would not be taking the opportunity to rest players.

"We're preparing for the Olympics and part of that is to have a flexible squad of 16.

"It's a good opportunity to play against another strong opposition."

Should Australia's Hockeyroos beat Japan in tomorrow's other game the trans-Tasman rivals will decide first and second place in the opening leg of the tournament.

- NZPA