Five Test Series New Zealand vs. Japan – New Zealand facing tough time
The New Zealand Women’s hockey team was defeated in their first test match against Japan by 0-2 on March 11 at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium in New Zealand.
The team had started the event in the absence of their seven regular players among which three senior players are presently in Holland playing club hockey. The other four players namely Katie Glynn, Ella Gunson, Emily Naylor and Kate Mahon have not been
considered in the team due to their injuries.
For young domestic players like Auckland’s defender Danielle Jones, North Harbour’s striker Petrea Webster and Canterbury’s mid-fielder Bridget Blackwood received their international debut chance due to the absence of the three senior players namely Lucy
Talbot, Krystal Forgesson and Gemma Flynn.
However, including three new players from the development squad did not prove any better for the New Zealand Women’s team to win their first test match against Japan, being defeated by a 2-0 score line.
New Zealand Women’s coach Mark Hager stated that the team did not allow much passes to one another and lacked the basic skills that led towards losing control over the ball throughout the game.
In the beginning of the match, it was found that the Japanese Women dominated the field with the ball possession and managed to receive a penalty corner in the middle of the first half. However, the talented Black Stick Bianca Russell effectively deflected
it, protecting the goal.
Two brilliant efforts went in vain for the New Zealand team in the early first half with a close miss from striker Samantha Harrison that was deflected by the Japanese goal-keeper. The second effort was made by Laura Douglas in a penalty corner when the
ball went past the top of the goal post.
However, the opening goal was delivered by Japan’s Misato Katherine in the 34th minute on receiving a pass from the baseline and effortlessly pushing it into the far corner of the goal.
The second half was also found conquered by the Japanese side keeping the ball in possession throughout the second half. Despite such pressure from the opposing team the New Zealand Women were found firm and steady with consistent and quick attacks made
by their captain Kayla Sharland along with Anita Punt. On the sideline, another player, Jan Burrows, who returned to the New Zealand’s National squad after her debut in 2003.
Due to the lack of availing their goal chances, they confronted another penalty attack that was scored by Japan’s drag-flicker Ai Murakami in the conclusive 55th minute of the match. As a result, Japan defeated the host team 2-0 in the first test
match of the five test series.
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