by Bruce Hamilton
NOTTINGHAM, England, July 17, 2010
The Black Sticks Men took the bronze medal in the Four Nations tournament in Nottingham on Saturday (UK time), overcoming a first-half, two-goal deficit, scoring four goals in the second half to win 4-2.
New Zealand reversed the result of the pool match against Japan, which was won 4-3 by Japan.
Japan established a first half 2-0 lead with a field goal and a penalty corner conversion by Tomonori Ono.
Japan tired in the second half, lost momentum and control, abandoned the running game of the first half as they attempted to defend their lead.
Stephen Jenness deflected in a penalty corner conversion at the right post early in the second half and Steve Edwards ran through the circle from the right to push the ball into goal for the equaliser.
Andy Hayward’s unstoppable penalty corner conversion flew into the roof of goal with 10 minutes to play for the go-ahead goal to 3-2.
Two minutes later Stephen Jenness popped in a field goal at the left post after a goalmouth scramble for the last score.
Japan coach Siegfried Aikman acknowledged Japan grew tired in the second half.
“We played a good first half. But we wanted to avoid making a running game in the second half and we could not put on any pressure and played at too slow a pace because the players were too tired – the tournament was one half a match too long for us,” Aikman said.
Black Sticks Men's Coach Shane McLeod was pleased with his team’s performance.
“The second half fell quite nicely for us and after we got two goals and were on level pegging with Japan there was a high motivation at that time for the guys to go for the win and give them a success at the end of the tournament,” McLeod said.
Shane McLeod said he had no trouble motivating his players to go for the second half win.
“You are dealing with guys who have a lot of ambition and several of these guys are going back to New Zealand at the conclusion of this tournament. They may not play for New Zealand again for 18 months to two years so they are hugely motivated athletes who want to do well,” McLeod said.
Germany took gold in the Four Nations tournament over Great Britain 3-2 with an extra time golden goal.
The Black Sticks Men travel to Belgium next, and then France, as part of their build-up to the ABN AMRO Champions Trophy in Monchengladbach, Germany from July 31 to August 8. Several of the younger players now depart the team, as McLeod assembles his strongest combination for the next part of the tour.
