10 Dec 2011

No favours for Black Sticks as Spain make final instead

6:35 pm on 10 December 2011

The New Zealand men's hockey team will play off for third place at the Champions Trophy in Auckland, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's final medal round match against defending champions Australia.

That's because Spain beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the other semi-final round game. The Spanish led 2-1 at half-time.

So the Black Sticks will face the Dutch in the bronze medal playoff and it's Australia versus Spain in the gold match.

In the other games, Gerrmany beat Pakistan 5-0 after leading 2-0 at half-time and will play off for fifth place against Great Britain, who beat Korea 4-3 and will face Pakistan in the seventh place playoff.

Korea led 1-0 at half-time but had two green card sendings-off and the British capitalised.

The New Zealand-Australia game gets underway at North Harbour Hockey Stadium at 6:05pm.