Hockeyroos and Blacksticks play out third straight draw

The Hockeyroos and New Zealand still cannot be separated after Match 3 of the Trans-Tasman Series finished 2-2 to make it a third straight draw between the teams.

Unlike the first two games, the Hockeyroos started the stronger and were rewarded when Madison Fitzpatrick struck a well timed drag flick in the 7th minute that found its way past Blacksticks goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon.

At the other end Hockeyroos goalkeeper Ashlee Wells did well to prevent the Blacksticks from drawing level with a fine save from a penalty corner two minutes before quarter time.

Rosie Malone and Renee Taylor then forced consecutive saves from O’Hanlon as the Hockeyroos looked to extend their lead.

In the 23rd minute the Blacksticks were level when captain Stacey Michelson threaded a stellar 50 metre hit pass that split the Hockeyroos defence and allowed Julia King to score on the reverse.

The Hockeyroos were almost caught out again when Olivia Merry found herself the beneficiary of another long ball but Olivia Shannon could not guide the ensuing pass into the open goal.

The teams exchanged penalty corners at the start of the third quarter before the Blacksticks enjoyed a period of ascendancy and went in front.

Rachael Lynch, who replaced Wells at half time, kept out Merry’s low drive but Ella Gunson was the first to react from the rebound and knocked the ball into the backboard to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

The Hockeyroos upped the tempo in the last quarter but their cause was not helped when Mariah Williams received a yellow card leaving the Australians with one player less for five minutes.

Lynch palmed away a Hope Ralph shot as the Blacksticks looked to land the killer blow with three minutes left.

But the Hockeyroos again showed grit to equalise late on. Captain for the day Brooke Peris opened up the field with a quality turn allowing Renee Taylor to unload a powerful shot.

O’Hanlon parried it away but Malone was alert to it and showed great desperation to sharply knock the ball home.

Both teams now have it all to play for in the final match of the series on Tuesday.

Match Details
Hockeyroos 2 (M.Fitzpatrick 7’, Malone 58’)
New Zealand 2 (King 23’, Gunson 41’)
@ Massey University Turf

Hockeyroos: 1.Sophie Taylor, 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris (c), 4.Amy Lawton, 5.Ashlee Wells (gk), 6.Penny Squibb, 8.Georgia Wilson, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 12.Greta Hayes, 15.Kaitlin Nobbs, 20.Karri Somerville, 21.Renee Taylor, 22.Kate Jenner, 24.Mariah Williams, 26.Emily Chalker, 27.Rachael Lynch (gk), 31.Laura Barden, 32.Savannah Fitzpatrick

New Zealand: 1.Tarryn Davey, 2.Olivia Shannon, 4.Olivia Merry, 7.Kayla Whitelock, 12.Ella Gunson, 13.Samantha Charlton, 15.Grace O’Hanlon (gk), 16.Liz Thompson, 17.Steph Dickins, 20.Megan Hull, 22.Katie Doar, 24.Rose Keddell, 25.Kelsey Smith, 27.Holly Pearson, 31.Stacey Michelsen (c), 33.Julia King, 34.Hope Ralph
Unused Substitutes: 42.Georgia Barnett (gk)