Hockey: NZ back on track with win over South Africa

8.15am

New Zealand raced back into medal contention as they toppled hosts South Africa 2-1 at the Champions Challenge men's hockey tournament in Randburg today.

Big defender Hayden Shaw once more proved his worth as he drilled home the winner from a penalty corner with 25 minutes left, to lift New Zealand from last to fourth on the points table.

They now face bottom-placed England on Saturday morning (NZ time) to try and book a place in the bronze medal playoff, although a berth in the final isn't out of reach.

"Our main goal was to come away from here with a medal and we're confident of picking up three points against England," manager Arvind Jasmat told NZPA from Johannesburg.

"We're still a rough chance of making the final but we need a few results to go our way."

New Zealand can scrape into the final if Spain draw with South Africa and Malaysia upset Korea.

It was a long wait for New Zealand's first win of the tournament after draws with Malaysia and Korea, then a 2-3 loss to Spain in the dying seconds yesterday.

Today it seemed like more of the same as New Zealand struggled in the first quarter, conceding a goal in the first three minutes as they battled to control possession.

They were set to go to halftime 0-1 down but Bevan Hari latched on for his second goal in two days to level the scores at the break.

Shaw, who missed yesterday's loss to Spain due to a groin strain, was off target with his early penalty corner attempts.

But he got the radar working in the second half to put New Zealand ahead in the 45th minute, then they held off a determined late charge from the home side.

Jasmat said Shaw's return was a telling boost, and he was likely to back up on Saturday.

"He just gives us more grunt up front. It lifts the team knowing if we get a penalty corner we're a good chance."

New Zealand have only met England once in the past five years, beating them 5-1 in England in 2001.

Captain Simon Towns would be a key man with his experience playing for Reading in the English competition.

England's solitary win at the tournament was also against South Africa, a 2-0 scoreline in round two.

- NZPA