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Black Sticks take Festival of Hockey title

The New Zealand Black Sticks Women’s Hockey team has triumphed at the Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey but not before some anxious moments in the final five minutes.

The hosts had dominated large periods of the match and were three nil in front but in the final five minutes Japan mounted a strong challenge in an effort to snatch an unlikely draw and take the game to a shootout.

The Black Sticks made a blistering start to the final netting twice in the first nine minutes. Olivia Merry was first on the scoresheet after just four minutes and Gemma Flynn made it two in the ninth minute.

Japan was being completely outplayed until midway through the second quarter when they managed to mount some promising raids but the Black Sticks defence dealt with everything that was thrown at it.

After just 3 minutes of the third quarter the Black Sticks lead was three when Kayla Whitelock found the net.

As the match wore on the Black Sticks were in complete control and were looking good to take the Hawke’s Bay Cup. Japan had other ideas and with just 5 minutes remaining their captain Miyuki Nakagawa reduced the deficit. With 33secs left on the clock it was the turn of Mie Nakashima to get the ball in the net and the crowd was starting to doubt the win that had looked so sure just a few minutes before.

The Black Sticks clung to their lead and when the final whistle sounded they had claimed the Cup that they so desperately wanted.

The Black Sticks finished fourth in the inaugural tournament in 2014 and were runnerups to Australia in 2015.

Final places at the 2016 Festival of Hockey: Canada 8th - Korea 7th - India 6th - Ireland 5th -China 4th - Australia 3rd - Japan 2nd - New Zealand 1st

Half time: New Zealand 2 Japan 0

Final score

New Zealand: 3 Olivia Merry (4) Gemma Flynn (9)  Kayla Whitelock (33)

Japan: 2 Miyuki Nakagawa (55) Mie Nakashima (60) 

 - Festival of Hockey

4 October 2017

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