Black Sticks women underwhelm as clinical China dominate in capital

At National Hockey Stadium, Wellington: China 5 (Gu Bingfeng 8’ PS, Zhang Xiaoxue 22’ FG, Chen Yang 26’ FG, 52’ PC, Liang Meiyu 54’ PC) Black Sticks 2 (Olivia Merry 20’ PS, Hannah Cotter 42’ PC) 1Q: 1-0, HT: 3-1, 3Q: 3-2.

One step forward, two steps back for the Black Sticks women.

Just 24 hours after a heartening 4-1 victory over the United States, New Zealand turned in a sluggish showing, outclassed 5-2 by China in their FIH Pro League outing in Wellington on Sunday.

China, ranked 10th in the world, delivered a dominant performance, making the ninth-ranked Black Sticks pay for a raft of attacking opportunities and 13 penalty corners – which they scored two goals from.

New Zealand were left to bemoan a poor first half, where they were completely outplayed by China and fell behind 3-1 at halftime.

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The Black Sticks played their best hockey in the third quarter, pulling it back to 3-2 through a penalty corner tap-in from Hannah Cotter from an Olivia Merry goal-bound shot. Two final quarter goals from China capped off a deserved win – scoring both from penalty corners.

China outshot New Zealand 14 to 5 and finished with a whopping 40 circle penetrations to nine.

“Really tough day at the office. I thought China just outplayed us and outworked us. We’re really disappointed. We know we’re capable of so much more,” New Zealand captain Megan Hull said.

“We’ve got to take this as a learning moment for us moving forward. We’ve got such amazing talent in this group, such promise. Moving forward, we know we have to be better.”

The loss leaves New Zealand languishing in sixth position in the nine-team Pro League with just one win from four matches, while China move to fourth.

It was all China in the first half, who could have easily scored another few goals. They had 26 circle penetrations in the first 30 minutes, compared to New Zealand’s two. China also had eight penalty corners in the first half with New Zealand limited to one.

China’s early dominance paid off, opening the scoring in the eight minute via a penalty stroke.

With their third penalty corner of the game, their goal-bound shot struck the foot of defender Anna Crowley, leading to a stroke.

Gu Bingfeng stepped up and rifled her shot into the net with goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon going the wrong way.

O’Hanlon had produced a strong save to deny China off their opening penalty corner, keeping out Dan Wen’s attempt with her right foot.

Black Sticks coach Phil Burrows would have been disappointed with his side’s lethargic beginning after a heartening win over the USA the previous day.

New Zealand defended for the bulk of the first quarter, struggling to generate possession or territory, barely getting into the Chinese half in a disjointed display.

It was a constant attacking onslaught from China, who continually created opportunities in the New Zealand goal circle and forced penalty corners.

With their first foray into the Chinese goal circle, New Zealand came away with a goal in the second quarter.

They forced their first penalty corner of the game, which turned into a penalty stroke after the goal-bound attempt hit the body of a Chinese defender on the line.

Merry, New Zealand’s all-time leading goal-scorer, with 121 strikes prior to this game, made it 122, firing home her stroke.

New Zealand would have been annoyed to have conceded a goal just two minutes later from a smart finish from Zhang Xiaoxue. The goal was referred upstairs for a potential back stick, but replays suggested Xiaoxue had in fact scored with the front end of her stick and the goal stood.

Things went from bad to worse for the Black Sticks with goalkeeper Brooke Roberts, who kept for the even quarters, clearing the ball straight into the path of China, who capitalised through Chen Yang.

The second half fightback came from New Zealand, pulling it back to 3-2, but two penalty corner strikes early in the fourth quarter ruined any chance of a comeback.

The Black Sticks women are next in action at Christchurch’s Ngā Puna Wai from April 22-30 against Australia and Great Britain – including an Anzac Day doubleheader. The New Zealand men also face the same opponents over those dates.