The New Zealand junior women's hockey team have beaten Belgium 7-3 overnight (NZT) at the Junior World Cup in Germany, meaning they qualify for the playoffs for ninth-12th.
The Junior Black Sticks led 4-0 at halftime in 35-degree temperatures, and closed out the match as Phillipa Symes and Brooke Neal both scored doubles against a Belgium side coached by former New Zealand men's coach Shane McLeod.
"It was very hot today, but it's tough going for both teams,'' Junior Black Sticks coach Chris Leslie said. "We always play very well in the first half of the game, we were very dominant today, but Belgium played very well in the second half and put on a lot of pressure.''
New Zealand join the playoffs for ninth-12th and play China at tomorrow night (NZth) before their final playoff game on Sunday.
New Zealand 7 (Phillipa Symes 2, Brooke Neal 2, Cass Reid, Michaela Curtis, Rose Keddell) Belgium 3 (Julie de Paeuw, Axelle Wouters, Emma Puvrez). HT: 4-0.
