NZ MEN BACK ON TRACK, WOMEN GRIND OUT WIN

After their opening match against Scotland, the New Zealand men’s hockey team got their campaign back on track with a 4-1 win over Pakistan.

Pakistan retained possession well and showed the odd deft touch, but New Zealand were notably more aggressive and generally seemed more likely to score.

After leading 2-1 at halftime, New Zealand relaxed and controlled play well.

Hugo Inglis (2) and Dylan Thomas scored goals and right on fulltime Sam Lane added the coup de grace fourth goal. All four of the New Zealand goals were from the field, though they did earn six penalty corners as well. New Zealand had 25 shots at goal, Pakistan only eight.

Inglis said afterwards he felt the team was on the right track now after getting the cobwebs out of the way against Scotland.

“We want to play our best hockey at the end, so we just need to keep building from here,” he said. 

The New Zealand women’s hockey team kept the defence of their Commonwealth Games crown on track with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Scotland.

The result gives them two wins from two outings – they overwhelmed Kenya 16-0 in the opening round.

The Scots proved gritty and stubborn. New Zealand earned nine penalty corners, but were able to convert only one – when Rose Tynan scored in the 10th minute after a superb redirection of a Megan Hull drag-flick.

Though possession was evenly shared, New Zealand looked the far more dangerous and penetrative side, but could not breach the Scottish defence. New Zealand had 21 shots at goal, Scotland just five.

New Zealand captain Hull gave full credit to Scotland afterwards.

“They were passionate and energetic and they brought it all to the table,” she said. “We had to be on our game. We probably need to be more clinical in both circles.”

In the end, she said, the New Zealanders were just pleased to come away with victory. “Sometimes you have to just grind out the wins. We did that. Now we’ll recover and turn our focus to Australia.”

Next up for both New Zealand sides will be a testing clashes with traditional rivals Australia.