Coach hails Black Sticks' triumphs

The Black Sticks men's hockey team completed a gratifying two months yesterday by qualifying for the prestigious Champions Trophy with a 4-2 win against Pakistan in Salta, Argentina.

It was the second major tournament the team has qualified for in a month after they reached the World Cup by winning a qualifying tournament in Invercargill in November.

Coach Shane McLeod admitted it has been an exceptional time and he was delighted with yesterday's success in the eight-team Champions Challenge tournament, achieved without three of his best defenders.

The Shaw brothers, Hayden and Brad, were not chosen for the tournament and Blair Hopping, probably the team's top defender, broke his hand in the second match in Salta.

The team is already beginning to repay the faith Sparc showed in them by funding them to the tune of $750,000 this year.

McLeod said planning had already started for what will be a huge year in 2010 which includes the World Cup in New Delhi from February 28, to be followed by the Champions Trophy in Germany from July 31 and the Commonwealth Games back in Delhi from October 3.

Going into the tournament last week McLeod felt the team had the ability to win.

"But with a few players missing you always wonder if the strength of the squad would be enough. Once we got into the tournament we improved game by game and we were happy going into the semifinal against Argentina.

"We played really well in that game. We didn't play quite as well today but took our opportunities.

"We had quite a new crew at the back, and you could see that from time to time. Each game we got a little bit better and tighter and today we defended very well but struggled to get onto attack, which is usually a strength of ours."

McLeod said normally he likes to play with three experienced defenders and one less experienced player.

"But at this tournament we had to do it the other way around with three less experienced players and one experienced. It was tough, but the less experienced players did well and it's saved us time in their development."

McLeod said one of the goals now New Zealand has qualified for the Champions Trophy will be to compete with the other five teams – Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, England and South Korea.

Every previous New Zealand team at the Champions Trophy has finished last in the six-team tournament.

"We've often spoken about being in the top six and this gives us an opportunity to really test ourselves. The guys are looking forward to it.

"I think we've been tapping at the door of the top six for a little while."

McLeod said the Black Sticks will have a break before returning in mid-January to start their buildup for the World Cup. They will play two tests against Australia and two games against the Australian Institute of Sport in Perth on the way to Delhi, and two warmup games against other nations in Delhi.

Pakistan scored first yesterday after just seven minutes, Sohail Abbas scoring from a penalty corner. New Zealand equalised after 15 minutes, Ryan Archibald scoring from a penalty corner deflection. Captain Phil Burrows gave the Black Sticks the lead five minutes later only for Rehan Butt to score in the last minute of the half.

New Zealand repelled a series of Pakistan attacks, and then their superior fitness allowed them to create chances in the last 10 minutes. With five minutes left Steve Edwards put New Zealand ahead and a minute later Burrows scored from a Simon Child pass.

- © Fairfax NZ News