14 Oct 2010

Hockey girls gutted after loss to Australia

7:44 am on 14 October 2010

The New Zealand women's hockey coach Mark Hager says his players were completely gutted after losing a penalty shootout to Australia in the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games.

The higher-ranked Australians led 1-0 at half-time, New Zealand scored on full-time to make it 2-2 and it stayed that way through extra time before the Australians won the shootout 4-2.

Hager says it was a frustrating way to end a tournament in which the New Zealand women had achieved their best result ever at a Games.

Hager was disappointed with their first half performance, but says they played so much better for the rest of the match.

He says this performance shows the Black Sticks can compete with the best in the world and it sets them up nicely for the London 2012 Olympics.