The Black Sticks Women have won the Four Nations hockey tournament with a 3-2 victory over Australia last night at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium.
After losing 3-1 in pool play to their trans-Tasman rivals, the home side came out firing after a couple of sluggish starts in the tournament to clinch the title in the final.
The Black Sticks captain Kayla Sharland, who had been in doubt for the match with stitches in her left knee, says it was the best 70 minutes of hockey from her team for a long time.
Within 12 minutes the Black Sticks were on the scoresheet with a penalty corner effort from Sharland.
The New Zealand side created a number of other opportunities but failed to find the back of the net but that was rectified eight minutes into the second spell when Katie Glynn gave the home side a 2-nil lead.
The Hockeyroos grabbed one back with a penalty corner, before Samantha Harrison restored the two-goal advantage as she latched on to a great through ball from Sharland.
The Australians got another one back after a wealth of penalty corners.
The Four Nations tournament continues until 22 April with the second series starting tomorrow.
