Inspired N.Z. hockey display

Press, 11 December 1982, Page 64

Inspired N.Z. hockey display

NZPA Melbourne An inspired New Zealand caused the first upset of the world hockey tournament in Melbourne yesterday with a 3-0 win over the World Cup silver medallist. West Germany. In front of a crowd of about 1500 at the Royal Park stadium, New Zealand continually harried the opposition defence and did not allow the West Germans into the game. The dashing righUwing. Peter Daji, scored twice for the Kiwis, including a diving deflection in the second half, and the captain, Arthur Parkin, played brilliantly to score the third goal. The team's manager, David Coulter, said that the game made up in part for the side’s narrow 1-2 loss to the West Germans at the

World Cup in Bombay in January. “Over the last few years this would have to rate among our best performances. the game went very much the way the coach. Brian Maunsell. wanted it to,” he said. New Zealand attacked from the opening whistle and was rewarded at the sixminute mark when Daji. Parkin and Ramesh Patel combined to bring up the first goal Parkin snapped up a loose clearing shot and fired it across to Patel, who flicked it to the right hand goalpost where Daji slipped it past the 'keeper into the left hand side of the net. These three combined with George Carnoutsos,' Stuart Grimshaw and Peter Miskimmin to give the New

Zealanders drive in attack. Parkin in particular showing great tenacity. West Germany’s best chance came at the 23-min-ute mark when Peter Caninenberg skied a clear shot from the top of the circle over the goals. The West Germans began to pick up their game in the last 10 minutes of the first half and at 0-1 down came out looking far more vigorous after the break.

But New Zealand quickly reasserted its dominance and six minutes into the half the 1976 Olympic Gold medallist, Parkin and Ramesh Patel, combined to bring up the second goal.

Patel seemed to have the ball glued to his stick as he took the ball through three defenders and into the top of the circle.

A quick pass to the left and Parkin converted for an easy goal. The highlight of the day came eight minutes later when Daji brought a roar from the crowd with a headlong dive at the right hand goalpost to deflect a free hit into the net. With New Zealand 3-0 up Daji was replaced by John Tanner, aged 22, playing his first international. But Tanner was on the ground for only two minutes before he had to be taken off, and David Coulter later confirmed he had strained a hamstring muscle. West Germany was never allowed into the game and the frustration showed when the captain • and sweeper, Michael Peter, moved briefly

into attack in the second half. Their disarray was evident late in the game when, after several substitutions, the West Germans found themselves with six forwards and five defenders when defending a penalty corner. Yesterday's win puts New Zealand in a strong position to reach the semi-finals and vindicates Brian Maunsell’s belief that the team is better than its present world ranking of seventh. However. New Zealand's next match, against Australia tomorrow, will be the real test of its improvement. West Germany will need to pick up tremendously if it hopes to play in the finals and after yesterday’s loss this could be an uphill battle.