First goal-less draw of World Cup leaves Black Sticks out of the race 

Only a win would do if the Black Sticks were to maintain any hope of making it to the semi-finals of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014, but the 0-0 draw that was played out between New Zealand and Australia was notable only for a high turnover of the ball and one controversial referral decision: goal scoring opportunities for either side were far and few between.

Early indications were that this would be a battle royal between the two Oceanic rivals, ranked four (Hockeyroos) and five (Black Sticks), but instead cagey play and some poor decision-making rendered it a game that had goal-less draw written all over it. Speaking after the game, Australia coach Adam Commens explained that three of his players had not been one hundred per cent fit: "Madonna (Blythe) was not feeling well, Edwina Bone was carrying an ankle injury and Anna Flanagan has a hamstring niggle. We had a tough match against the Netherlands the other night and we are still feeling it."

The game threw up only eight shots on target, with the Black Sticks on target seven time and the Hockeyroos only registering one meaningful shot. There were also only three penalty corners; two to Australia and one to the Black Sticks.

There were bright spots in the game: Georgia Nanscawen and Georgie Parker made some good runs at the Black Sticks defence in early opening salvos; and Anita Punt had a low shot saved from the Black Sticks’ only penalty corner of the game. Both Punt and Stacey Michelesen used their speed to good effect against the Australian defence in an energetic opening 20 minutes, but on each occasion the final pass was either wide, misplaced or easily dealt with by the Australian defence.

In the second half Australia thought they had scored the breakthrough when Emily Hurtz found the back of the net, but a video referral called by the Black Sticks revealed that the initial free hit into the circle from Anna Flanagan had not been stopped before being played. Edwina Bone said: "We all thought it was a goal, but that is the rule."

As the second half wore on both sides struggled in the hot conditions. Katie Glynn spoke of the tiredness that the players were feeling as they chased the ball: "It is always tough against Australia and we were chasing a goal. We just weren't clinical enough and as the game went on we just ran out of legs. We have got to learn in these situations not to run the ball so much."

Both coaches said they were disappointed that their players had not put the ball into the goal. Black Sticks coach Mark Hager said: "It was disappointing from our point of view not to put the chances away. We threw everything at them but it just didn't fall for us today."

Bone added: "Our game plan was to pressure their key players, defend tightly and then hit them on the counter-attack. We certainly played with aggression to force turnovers but we couldn't score. Our forwards are working hard and we always back them to score, but today it just didn't come off."

The result means that Australia need the Netherlands to win or draw against Korea otherwise it will come down to who has the best goal difference between Australia and Korea. Depending on results, the Black Sticks will contend either 5th/6th or 7th/8th place.

Official Match Report (PDF)