Hockey: Penalty corners posing problem for Black Sticks

SYDNEY - The New Zealand women's team will be looking for their first goal from a penalty corner in the World Cup in Perth when they play Scotland tonight.

The Black Sticks grabbed their first win of the tournament on Tuesday through a 3-1 result over Russia, with all their goals coming from open play, rather than from any of the four penalty corners they were awarded.

In their 1-0 first-round loss to world No 1 Argentina on Sunday, the New Zealanders were unable to take advantage of the five penalty corners they had.

Assistant coach Selwyn Maister said it was an area the Black Sticks certainly wanted to improve.

Going into the tournament, Russia, Scotland and Ukraine were seen as the three countries New Zealand were clear favourites to beat among their seven pool opponents.

But Maister said there would be no complacency on the part of the Black Sticks when they ran on against the Scots.

"There are no easy games here because when it comes to the Olympics and the World Cup, all these teams are well prepared," he said.

"They've done their homework and they are tougher than you would find them in an international series somewhere.

"The Russians played better than we expected."

Nevertheless, New Zealand still looked a class above their opponents, constantly troubling the Russians' defence on both sides of the field.

Coach Jan Borren gave game time to all the players who did not get a run against Argentina.

Among them was reserve goalkeeper Anne-Marie Irving, who came off the bench to make her 50th national appearance.

- NZPA