Black Sticks take on South Korea in first hockey Test

South Korean men’s hockey team will take on hosts New Zealand in the first of the six match Test series at the Rangitoto College in Auckland.

The Shin Kyo Seok-coached South Korean outfit would be looking to build on their creditable bronze medal effort at the 22^nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament held in Ipoh, Malaysia last March. The side led by experienced Lee Seung-il, edged out New Zealand by the odd goal in three in the bronze medal play-off match.

The Redshirts started their Azlan Shah campaign on a promising note, turning in a magnificent performance before going down 2-3 to Malaysia. They then beat India 2-1 with Kang Moon Kweon scoring once in each half.

South Korea’s resurgence was halted by New Zealand, who slammed three past them without reply.

The Asian powerhouse – ranked eighth in the world – showed plenty of pluck to hold eventual champions Australia to a 3-3 draw before being locked in a 2-2 draw with world number five Pakistan.

The six-match Test should give the Colin Batch-coached New Zealand side an opportunity to obliterate the wounds of their bronze medal play-off defeat at the hands of South Korea in the 22^nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

Batch, who previously coached the Belgium national side, has picked three London Olympians – Phil Burrows (292 internationals), Shea McAleese (173 internationals) and Nick Haig (106 internationals) in his 23-man squad.

The squad also comprises young turks James Coughlan and 19-year-old George Muir, who is set to make his senior international debut after coming through the junior ranks. The Black Sticks would be miss the presence of Simon Child and Nick Wilson, due to club commitments. The duo had missed the 22nd Sultan Azlan Cup as well.

The upcoming Test series will Black Sticks men’s final preparation for the Hockey World League semifinals to be held in Rotterdam from June 13-22.

The second hockey Test would also be played at the Rangitoto College on May 16. The third and fourth Tests would be played at the Southern Hockey Turf in Papatoetoe on May 18 and 19.

The fifth and sixth hockey Tests would be played at Counties Manukau on May 21 and 22.

South Korea recently played a four-match Test series against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth. They won the first Test 4-1 in a penalty shoot out after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time.

Stung by the opening Test defeat, Australia came out firing in the second Test. Local boy Trent Milton pulled off a superb hat-trick as the Kookaburras thumped the Redshirts 5-2.

South Korea then took the upper hand leading 3-2 in the third Test but were denied a much deserved win by a late equalizer from Matt Williams, who made his senior international debut during the ongoing four-match Test series.

Australia then wrapped up the series in style crushing the Koreans 4-0 in the fourth and final Test. Milton, Russell Ford, Kieren Govers and Rob Hammond scored for the Kookaburras.

The Perth Hockey Stadium recently hosted the four-match Test series between the South Korea and Australian women. The series ended with both teams sharing the honours, winning two matches apiece.

The Hockeyroos won the opening Test 4-2 before the South Koreans hit back to win the second Test 2-1. Australia clinched the third Test 6-0 before South Korea won the final Test 3-1.