Hockey: Team celebrate in style

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The New Zealand men's under-21 hockey team celebrated confirmation of their place in next year's junior World Cup with a stunning 6-1 win over Australia in Hobart in the first of three tests.

"The Australians were very surprised, but so were we," New Zealand coach Craig Hobbs said from Tasmania.

"Australia had an early opportunity but didn't take it. That made sure we settled quickly and in the end we fully deserved our victory."

Australia, as defending world champions and hosts for the 2001 championships, have automatic entry to the junior World Cup, but New Zealand's place as the Oceania representatives has only recently been confirmed.

"It is quite a significant result for us," said New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel yesterday. "Most key players who are in Australia at present will be available again next year.

"We thought we would get the Oceania spot, but nothing was definite until a few weeks ago. We deliberately did not tell the players too soon as we wanted them to work hard towards this series which initially was touted as a qualifying tournament."

Spearheaded by senior internationals Phil Burrows and Ryan Archibald, the Kiwis were 4-0 ahead at halftime.

Burrows scored from a penalty corner after nine minutes and grabbed the second with a reverse-stick shot eight minutes later. Archibald converted a stroke for 3-0 and grabbed his second from a penalty corner just before the break.

Gareth Brooks made it 5-0 before the home side, from their first penalty-corner raid, got one back. Burrows completed his hat-trick eight minutes from the end.

Meanwhile, national women's coach Jan Borren is expected to outline his future plans with hockey bosses next week. He has been considering his options before announcing whether he will take the team through to the 2002 World Cup.

All players have completed a confidential analysis of Borren and the team's performance at the Sydney Olympics. These have been studied by the federation and Borren.