The New Zealand women's hockey team has completed pool play at the Hawke's Bay Cup unbeaten following a 3-1 win over Ireland.
Black Sticks captain Anita Punt Photo: Photosport
The Black Sticks will now meet South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Ireland gave the local team a fright after going 1 up through a Nicola Evans goal.
The Irish team were giving as good as they got in the first half and the Black Sticks were struggling to get any clearcut chances in the goalmouth.
The complexion of the game changed early in the second half when Anita Punt fired the ball into the roof of the net and that was the signal for the Black Sticks to step up the pressure.
A glut of possession and territory allowed Stacy Michelsen to score in the 52nd minute and when Charlotte Harrison fired a bullet of a shot into the net two minutes later, it put the game out of Ireland's reach.
The Black Sticks complete play at the top of Pool B with the maximum 3 wins from three games. China will finish second, Ireland third and India fourth.
In pool A Japan is at the top ahead of Australia, Canada and Korea.
