FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Pool B
New Zealand 3 England 1
New Zealand took control of Pool B at the Women’s World Cup in Amstelveen, coming from behind to win 3-1 and leave England with work to do against China on Thursday at 1530 BST.
Earlier, India and China had drawn 1-1 for the third successive draw in the Pool, meaning that New Zealand are now guaranteed a place in the crossover matches as a minimum, following their victory.
England, in contrast, need a win over Alyson Annan’s China in their final pool game to progress, although a draw could be enough if New Zealand beat India, allowing England to overturn their minus 2 goal difference disadvantage and finish in third place.
England’s Lily Owsley won her 100th home cap and Ellie Rayer, her 50th in a sunny Wagener Stadium, where against India, both penalty corner awards had been nullified.
Against New Zealand, England were to win 16 penalty corners, but it was only the first, in the fourth minute which was to be converted, Giselle Ansley’s initial shot blocked before Hollie Pearne-Webb found Owsley, who lobbed the ball into the net to celebrate her milestone cap.
England still led 1-0 after the first quarter, but the pattern had been set as two further penalty corners were blocked by the New Zealand defence, the second resulting in a Black Sticks counter attack, before Brooke Roberts, a late replacement for Grace O’Hanlon in the New Zealand goal, due to a back niggle, saved from Grace Balsdon in the second quarter.
New Zealand nearly fell behind in the 26th minute, Fiona Crackles’ pass finding Tess Howard in the circle, only for Howard to fire the ball wide of the right post.
As against India, England proved vulnerable in defence near the end of the second quarter. Having gained an early lead, England had conceded an Indian equaliser in the 28th minute. New Zealand caught England out in the 29th minute, Megan Hull taking a free hit from the left sideline, the resulting aerial initially controlled by Anna Toman before Tyler Lench regained possession, ran towards the England back line and pulled the ball back for Katie Doar to find the backboard in emphatic fashion and score her first international goal.
In the third quarter, England piled on the pressure, forcing four penalty corners before the momentum swung towards New Zealand. The fourth award, and England’s eighth of the match, saw Balsdon apparently restore England’s lead in the 36th minute, only for the goal to be disallowed. England used their video referral to challenge the decision and lost the right to further referrals when replays showed the ball had entered the goal off Hull’s forearm.
Three minutes later, with England’s Shona McCallin in the sin-bin after receiving a green card, New Zealand took the lead, Doar’s speculative shot from the left of the circle eluding Maddie Hinch in the England goal, to give Doar her second goal of the match.
England had two further penalty corner opportunities in the third quarter but the New Zealand defence held firm. In the 51st minute, New Zealand won their only penalty corner of the match, whilst shorthanded, Rose Tynan sitting on the naughty step after being shown a yellow card. Hinch saved Olivia Merry’s initial shot before Lench crossed the ball from the right for Tarryn Davey to force the ball home with an outstretched stick at the left post.
England were frustrated with three further penalty corners defended, and New Zealand again given the opportunity to counter attack from the final award, but England ran out of time and they will need to regroup on Thursday if they are going to keep their World Cup campaign alive.
New Zealand:
Scorers: Katie Doar 29-F, 39-F; Tarryn Davey 51-PC
Starters: Tarryn Davey, Olivia Shannon, Olivia Merry, Frances Davies, Hope Ralph, Aniwaka Haumaha, Brooke Roberts (GK), Stephanie Dickins, Tessa Jopp, Megan Hull (Capt.), Katie Doar.
Subs: Alex Lukin (4 mins), Rose Tynan (4), Tyler Lench (6), Alia Jaques (6), Kaitin Cotter (6), Anna Crowley (12).
Sub not used: Grace O’Hanlon (GK).
Cards: Green: Tessa Jopp (32). Yellow: Rose Tynan (47 mins).
England:
Scorer: Lily Owsley 4-PC
Starters: Maddie Hinch (GK); Laura Unsworth, Anna Toman, Hannah Martin, Ellie Rayer, Izzy Petter, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Pearne-Webb (Capt.), Fiona Crackles, Sophie Hamilton, Lily Owsley.
Subs: Darcy Bourne (4 mins), Tess Howard (4), Shona McCallin (4), Grace Balsdon (4), Holly Hunt (5), Lily Walker (6).
Sub not used: Sabbie Heesh (GK).
Cards: Green: Shona McCallin (39 mins).
Umpires: Maggie Giddens (USA) and Emi Yamada (Japan)