Hockey: Tough start to men's tournament

The Black Sticks men celebrate their penalty shootout victory over Australia. File photo / PMF Sports Images

New Zealand need to pick themselves up smartly after a tough start to the International Challenge men's hockey tournament in Hobart tonight.

The seventh-ranked Black Sticks were outclassed 3-0 by world No 1 Australia, barely getting a shot on goal and failing to register a single penalty corner.

Their goals came from Chris Ciriello, from a penalty corner, Kiel Brown, four minutes before halftime, and Jeremy Hayward, also with a penalty corner nine minutes after the restart.

New Zealand were well off their game. Too often possession was given away as New Zealand pressed forward. Australia were more assertive and were able to outmuscle New Zealand too often in the exchanges.

The result meant Australia have won all three of their games so far, following 6-0 and 7-0 beatings of Pakistan and Korea respectively.

The last time the teams met, New Zealand triumphed in a penalty shootout to win the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia last month after the teams had drawn 2-2 in normal time.

New Zealand had a day off before playing Pakistan on Thursday night.

They follow that with a second outing against Australia on Saturday and finish with a game against Korea on Sunday.

The tournament serves a useful purpose as leadup for the World League semifinals in Buenos Aires next month, which double as an Olympic Games qualifying tournament for Rio next year.

Three teams will progress to the Olympics from that event and New Zealand are the fourth-highest ranking side who will play there behind No 2 the Netherlands, No 3 Germany and No 6 and hosts Argentina.