Hockey: NZ win against hosts India 3-1

Shea McAleese celebrates scoring against India.

New Zealand got on the board in their second match at the World League hockey finals with a 3-1 win over hosts India in New Delhi today.

It was a much-improved performance after their 6-1 loss to Olympic champions Germany in their opening game.

Midfielder Shea McAleese got the first goal in the second minute and two second half goals from Stephen Jenness - one a deft flick from a Phil Burrows drive into the circle the other a neat individual effort - had the seventh-ranked Black Sticks 3-0 up midway through the second half.

India got a consolation goal through Mandeep Singh late in the match.

"We didn't have much ball against Germany so that was a focus for us and we did well in that area today," man of the match Jenness said.

"We held onto the ball well and took our chances when we could. It was a great team effort and the result comes down to the work the boys put into supporting each other."

New Zealand play fourth-ranked England in their last pool game tomorrow night (NZT).

In the other pool A game, in a surprise England beat the Germans 2-1, while in pool B the Netherlands beat Australia 1-0 and Argentina surprised Belgium 3-2.