Hockey: Tough start as Black Sticks blown away

Argentina started their three-test series with the Black Sticks women with a bang in Whangarei last night.

After firecracker start - four goals in the first eight minutes as the visitors took a 3-1 lead - the No 2 ranked team in the world eventually won the tour opener 7-4.

While the match heralded international debuts in front of their home crowd for Ella Gunson, Anna Thorpe, Samantha Harrison and Stacey Michelsen - along with Auckland's Lucy Talbot - it was Argentine Luchetti Rosario who stole the show.

The 25-year-old striker celebrated her 100th international cap with two goals in the first half as the South Americans raced to a 6-3 lead. Three of their goals from open play, three from well-taken penalty corners.

New Zealand were caught short defensively early leaving goalkeeper Bianca Russell exposed as the visitors mounted wave after wave of attacking moves.

Determined to get the most he could from the match, Black Sticks coach Mark Hager rang the changes with Kate Saunders and Emily Naylor taking the early defensive responsibility before be replaced by Jasmin McQuinn and Clarissa Eshuis.

On attack, New Zealand did show some good touches and in scoring those three goals before halftime they did better than recent efforts against Argentina.

The Black Sticks lost 3-2 at last year's Beijing Olympics but in three previous efforts went down 3-0, 6-0 and 3-0. New Zealand have not beaten the fleet-footed South Americans since a series win here in 1988.

Gemma Flynn scored a diving goal to open the Black Sticks' account last night.

That effort was followed by goals-on-debut from Harrison and Thorpe, who closed the gap to 5-3 after the visitors threatened to run away with it.

From the only penalty corner New Zealand won in the first half, Saunders' drag flick attempt was well-saved.

The tempo slowed after the break with both sides scoring just one goal as the Black Sticks picked up their defensive effort.

Eshuis scored New Zealand's second half goal with a well-taken penalty corner drag flick. A similar attempt a minute later also went close.