19 Jul 2010

B;acl Sticks women fifth at Champions Trophy

6:29 am on 19 July 2010

The New Zealand women have equalled their best performance at hockey's Champions Trophy tournament by beating China to finish fifth.

The Black Sticks won 4-3 in Nottingham last night after losing to the Chinese in pool play a week ago.

They played catch-up throughout the match with Charlotte Harrison scoring the first equaliser.

China, ranked third going into the tournament led 2-1 at half-time before Katie Glynn scored five minutes into the second spell.

China's third goal came from a penalty corner but then they tired and Pikki Hamahona equalised with 12 minutes to play with Gemma Flynn scoring the winner with seven minutes to go.

The win and a 2-all draw with England ensured the Black Sticks finished fifth at the top six tournament for the fourth time since 1999.

Argentina beat the Netherlands 4-2 in rthe gold medal match and England beat Germany 2-1 for the bronze,