Hockey: New Zealand's chances go begging as fourth test drawn

A failure to turn possession into goals cost New Zealand a third win in the four-match women's hockey series against India which ended in Christchurch last night.

New Zealand went ahead three times but on each occasion India struck back to equalise and eventually draw the game 3-3.

New Zealand won the series 2-0 after winning the first two matches in Dunedin and Oamaru last week.

New Zealand enjoyed a significant advantage in territory and possession last night but were unable to turn that into goals.

Their penalty-corner battery, which enabled them to fight back for a 3-3 draw in the third test on Sunday, failed to fire yesterday.

New Zealand had eight penalty corners to India's four and failed to score from any of them.

New Zealand were frustrated by some rugged tackling by the Indians, whose best player, Saba Anjum, received a temporary suspension after 30 minutes for a particularly bad tackle.

She received another warning in the second half.

New Zealand coach Ian Rutledge said the Indians were overly aggressive.

"We were trying to play constructive hockey but weren't being allowed to. It wasn't a very good spectacle. People don't want to turn up and see that sort of play."

New Zealand started strongly to force three penalty corners in the first 12 minutes.

They were finally rewarded for a series of searching attacks after 16 minutes when Lisa Walton was on hand to guide home an excellent cross from Niniwa Roberts-Lang after a good build up down the left.

India's attacks were mainly quick counter-attacks but they were effective and found New Zealand out of position several times.

India's first goal after 28 minutes came from a superb deflection into the net by Sanggai Chaunu.

New Zealand had the lead against four minutes later when captain Suzie Muirhead deflected home a free hit.

India levelled again after 46 minutes when Anjum set up Mamta Kharb.

Roberts-Lang scored New Zealand's third goal when a free hit rebounded from a goalpost to her.

Indians drew level yet again with seven minutes remaining when Pushpa Pradhan scored from India's first penalty corner of the half.

Rutledge said the Black Sticks should have had India on the rack in the first half.

"We had opportunities to score and when we didn't nail our chances and they were able to keep testing us.

"Our strikers were a bit wasteful. They need to be more efficient with their chances."

- NZPA