Black Sticks playing for pride

Their minimum goal achieved, the New Zealand women's hockey team have little to play for aside from pride when they battle China for seventh and eighth place at the World Cup in Argentina tomorrow morning (NZT).

Three losses, a draw and a lone win represents a moderate return in the pool phase for the Black Sticks, who harboured outside thoughts of reaching the semifinals before the tournament in Rosario began.

Instead, it took a 3-0 defeat of India on Wednesday for Mark Hager's team to sneak into fourth place in their pool and guarantee they reached their secondary target of a top-eight finish.

That result means they will hold onto their world ranking of seventh, thus ensuring Oceania will gain two qualification spots for the 2012 London Olympics - with Australia and New Zealand heavily favoured to fill those berths.

Also, a placing below eighth would not have been looked on favourably by Government agency Sparc, whose funding is now more likely to continue through to London.

The Black Sticks suffered losses to Germany, 2-0, the Netherlands, 7-3 and Australia, 4-1, while drawing 2-2 with Japan.

New Zealand also played China in their final ranking match at this year's Champions Trophy in Nottingham, prevailing 4-3 to place fifth.

- NZPA