Hockey: Revenge is sweet as Child doubles through

New Zealand 3 England 1

The Black Sticks men's hockey team have now left their Commonwealth Games disappointment well and truly behind them by beating England 3-1 in their march through to yesterday's final of the World Cup qualifying tournament in Changzhou, China.

In what turned out to be a disappointing Melbourne campaign, the men could only finish fifth.

In China, they have enjoyed satisfying victories over Commonwealth Games bronze medallists, Malaysia, before avenging the 3-4 loss to fourth-placed England during pool play at Melbourne which helped tip New Zealand out of medal reckoning.

Today, New Zealand will take on Pakistan - Games silver medallists - in the final after they crushed Korea 4-1 in the other semifinal. With World Cup qualification for Germany already secured, the major interest in today's final will be whether the Kiwis can continue their Melbourne revenge and possibly even lift their world ranking before the World Cup.

Against England, in a fast match, it was New Zealand who opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Simon Child volleyed home the chest-high rebound after a shot hit the crossbar.

Child struck again in the 26th minute, when the 17-year-old managed to fire home from near the penalty spot. James Tindall pinned one back for England from the field in the 45th minute but Hayden Shaw scored from a corner, his drag flick going in off a defender's stick, for the 3-1 scoreline.

England were awarded a disputed penalty stroke kshortly after Shaw's goal, but Ben Hawes failed to seize the opportunity as his weak shot rolled towards the goal in slow motion and was easily parried by Kyle Pontifex.

-AGENCIES