The New Zealand women's hockey team stunned Papua New Guinea 25-0 last night in their opening Oceania Cup match in Buderim, Queensland.
Coach Kevin Towns rated the performance a big step up from recent matches even though the Black Sticks barely raised a sweat.
"We needed to work
our way back after some poor games and I think we did that tonight," he said.
To put the win in perspective, Towns compared the performance with the side' recent 4-0 win over Hong Kong, a team he ranks alongside Papua New Guinea.
"I was pleased with the way we created space and moved the ball at pace," he said.
"Our circle positioning was better, as was our finishing."
Towns rotated his 16 players freely and didn't lose any momentum doing so.
Anita Wawatai and Niniwa Roberts were rested.
Relishing the extra space provided by a weaker opposition the strikers took advantage of some crisp passing through the midfield to execute some outstanding goals.
After going into halftime 11-0, the Black Sticks did well to maintain intensity and pile on another 14 goals.
Kayla Sharland played a key play-making role at inside right and also provided the finishes for one of the goals of the match, striking into the right hand corner from the top of the circle.
Jaimee Claxton and Caryn Paewai both bagged five goals apiece. Twenty of the goals were scored from the field.
Papua New Guinea penetrated the New Zealand circle just once, midway through the second half.
The score was the biggest by a New Zealand women's Hockey team. The previous best score was 15-0 over Namibia at the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
The Black Sticks meet Australia tonight, while the men's team play Papua New Guinea.
NZ 25 (Jaimee Claxton 5, Caryn Paewai 5, Krystal Forgesson 3, Lizzy Igasan 2, Honor Dillon 2, Kate Saunders 2, Charlotte Harrison 2, Kayla Sharland 1, Meredith Orr 1, Kim Noakes 1, Emily Naylor 1), PNG 0. Halftime: 11-0.
- NZPA
