Hockey: NZ back in hunt with 2-0 victory

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Overcoming the heat and the early injury to their most experienced player, the New Zealand team bounced back from the first round loss to Japan to beat the United States 2-0 in their second game at the hockey Champions Challenge in Cantania, Italy.

The win, achieved without Suzie Pearce, who sat out most of the game after straining abdominal muscles, took New Zealand into third place on the points table and in a position to challenge for second place when they tackle Spain in their next game on Thursday morning (NZ time).

Germany and Spain lead the tournament with two-from-two records in the opening rounds before tomorrow's rest day.

New Zealand coach Ian Rutledge has given all players game time in the testing conditions.

In playing the early game (5pm local time) each day, the Black Sticks have had to contend with temperatures in the high 30C's.

"We were disappointed to lose first up against Japan," said Rutledge. "We did not handle the ball particularly well and turned it over too often. In the end, though, we were unlucky not to have come away with a draw.

"Against the US we had more ball security. It was one of the better games I have seen in my time with the team. It was disappointing to lose Suzie when we did.

"But at least we have been able to play all the players. Against Japan we used 22 rolling substitutes and probably more against the Americans."

Rutledge said he was good to play some of what he called "the next generation" players, including Kayla Sharland, Melody Rowe, Amanda Christie, Jo Galletly and Nikki Grimwood. Goalkeeper Anita Wawatai played the entire game against the US.

Despite dropping back to play in the midfield to help offset Pearce's departure, Wellington's Niniwa Roberts-Lang scored both goals today.

The first was created by Sharland and Christie, the second from a straight hit at a penalty corner. Roberts-Lang has scored New Zealand's three goals at the tournament.

* Andrew Hastie and John Christensen have been named as assistant coaches for the New Zealand men's team which leaves on Friday for next week's Champions Challenge tournament in South Africa.

Hastie, coach of the Canterbury men's national league team, and Christensen, also from Canterbury and one of the three national selectors, will assist Charlie Oscroft in coaching the team in the enforced absence of coach Kevin Towns, who is remaining at home following minor heart surgery last week.