N.Z. defeats Japan in first test

Press, 12 August 1985, Page 31

N.Z. defeats Japan in first test

PA Wellington Two crashing penalty corner goals in three minutes by big fullback Grant McLeod clinched New Zealand's 3-1 win over Japan in the first hockey test at the national stadium in Wellington on Saturday. New Zealand led 3-1 at half-time but loosened its grip on the game in the second spell. McLeod was named the Post Office Savings Bank player of the day, not just for two of his thundering goals but for his aggressive

display which put the tourists on the back foot. The New Zealand coach, Trevor Blake, said his players eased off in the second spell but that it was their first game in a month. “We didn’t move quick enough, tended to stop rather than dash forward. We can match the Japanese with speed but today’s performance was satisfactory.” Blake said he expected his troops to improve in the second test. Japan’s coach Fumio Sugiura said he was pleased

with his team’s resurgence in the second half. Japan had taken time to settle down, he said, against the experienced New Zealand side. Chris Leslie opened the scoring for New Zealand in the seventh minute when he picked up a pass at the top of circle and connected with a sweet shot into the back of the Japanese goal. New Zealand dominated possession but failed to capitalise on the openings through the first half. Japan caught New Zealand napping in the 20th minute when captain Minoru Sakamoto slipped home a shock field goal.

McLeod retaliated with two blistering drives from penalty corners in the 24th and 27th minutes to put New Zealand out in front. Ramesh Patel and Jamie Smith were the pick of the forwards and it took well into the second half before Peter Daji tested the Japanese defence. New Zealand skipper Jeff Archibald could have been given more work on the right half before he went off with a crack on the hand in the second spell. Archibald is expected to be fit for Sundays test. Greg Pierce replaced Archibald and Simon Norton came on for Leslie and

three times split the Japanese defence late in the game. Kazunori Maeda, Toichi Nagai and Sakamoto impressed for the much improved Japanese. Maeda and Nagai were a continual nuisance, thwarting the New Zealand raids. Goalkeeper Masaro Ohnishi had a difficult day looking down the barrel of McLeod’s fiery stick. McLeod’s first penalty corner attempt was deflected off the goalkeeper’s facemask and for the rest of the game he was wary of the New Zealand penalty corner machine.