Hockey men out of medal reckoning

New Zealand bowed out of the men’s hockey medal reckoning when they went down 4-3 to South Africa in their final pool match.

The New Zealanders made just the start they didn’t want, and were 2-0 down after seven minutes.

After that, New Zealand got themselves into the game and ended up having more of the possession and spending two-thirds of the time on attack. They earned 14 penalty corners to South Africa’s six. 

The problem for New Zealand was that South Africa made the most of the chances they did have, whereas New Zealand were constantly thwarted by the South African defence.

For New Zealand Sam Lane, Hugo Inglis and Jake Smith scored goals. When Inglis scored the third goal from a penalty corner, in the 37th minute, it was 3-3 and it seemed New Zealand might have righted the ship.

However Connor Beauchamp scored a fourth goal for South Africa from a penalty corner in the 53rd minute and New Zealand were unable to draw level again. They earned one more penalty corner and kept pressing, but to no avail.