28 Apr 2014

Big win for Black Sticks in Malaysia

6:39 am on 28 April 2014

The New Zealand men's hockey team have recorded an emphatic 6-1 win over Japan in their second pool game at the Champions Challenge tournament in Malaysia.

Four goals in the first half to Steve Edwards, Kane Russell, Alex Shaw and Simon Child were enough to sink Japan's hopes with 35 minutes still to play.

Russell scored his double early in the second half before Stephen Jenness put the icing on the cake with a goal 10 minutes out from fulltime.

The Black Sticks are now two from two in Malaysia, having won their opening pool game against Ireland 2-1.

New Zealand play their final pool game against Poland at 11pm tonight (NZ time) before their cross-over quarter final.

The Champions Challenge doubles as a qualifier for the 2016 Champions Trophy with the winner earning an automatic berth, and is also important preparation for the Hockey World Cup which begins at the start of next month in the Netherlands.