20 Feb 2017

Black Sticks tumble to Argentina

2:12 pm on 20 February 2017

The New Zealand women's hockey team has lost the fifth test against Argentina in Buenos Aires, 2-nil giving the home side an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best of six test series.

The fourth test at the weekend was drawn 2-all.

Defensive lapses in the fourth quarter cost the Black Sticks dearly as Argentina scored two goals in one minute late.

The match marked Black Sticks defender Brooke Neal 100th international cap.

Brooke Neal

Brooke Neal Photo: Photosport

The assistant coach Sean Dancer said his side were troubled by some defensive errors while Argentina were clinical in their finishing.

"We did not start the game at the level required, but to the girls' credit managed to take it up a gear," he said.

"We worked hard and created some good chances, but we need to be better with a few errors costing us," said Dancer.

The Black Sticks play Argentina in the sixth and final in the series is tomorrow morning.