Hockey: Black Sticks lose to SA

10.50am - UPDATE

The Black Sticks New Zealand women's hockey team went down 3-0 in a training game against South Africa in Athens this morning (NZT).

Team manager Lynda Syms said it was a disappointing performance against the lower-ranked South Africans as the Black Sticks continue their Olympics build-up.

"Not very impressive. We dominated. We had eight or nine penalty corners and they had three or four but they scored three goals and we didn't score any."

The Black Sticks played two 25-minute spells against the South Africans and Syms said it was hard to pinpoint what had gone wrong.

"It's hard to know really. It was just a lacklustre performance. We weren't out-classed by them, we just need to step up," she said. "They played well but it is just a training session."

For one positive, Syms said there were no injury concerns ahead of their next training match against Australia on Monday.

- NZPA