Hockey: Black Sticks score first win to avoid wooden spoon

9.20pm - By MARK GEENTY

ATHENS - New Zealand broke a goal drought of nearly four hours of play to record their first win of the Olympic womens' hockey tournament today and avoid the dreaded wooden spoon playoff.

The Black Sticks polished off fellow winless pool B opponents Spain 3-2 to advance to the fifth-to-eighth playoff group.

Jaimee Provan had the honour of being New Zealand's first goalscorer of the Games in the 21st minute, after the team went 210 scoreless minutes in losses to China, Japan and Argentina while conceding seven goals.

New Zealand led 2-1 at halftime thanks to Provan, who followed up at close range from a saved shot, and Niniwa Roberts-Lang who hit the target from a penalty corner.

Then defender Lizzy Igason, playing with stitches in a facial cut suffered in the previous match, made the game safe midway through the second half with a penalty stroke.

New Zealand's defenders held firm under late attacks from Spain and were relieved to watch a late penalty corner attempt in the last minute fly over the bar.

- NZPA