Black Sticks men and women suffer losses in Amsterdam

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Black Sticks women were forced to play catch-up from the start against Germany, eventually losing 3-1 at the FIH Pro League in Amsterdam.

Hanna Granitzki scored Germany’s opener less than two minutes into the match.

The Black Sticks produced a stronger second half. They found the equaliser in the third quarter when Olivia Merry and Tyler Lench combined to deliver the ball for Hannah Cotter to tap it in from right in front goal.

But the Germans made sure they regained the lead before the final break, Sonja Zimmermann dragging a fairly tame one in off a penalty corner.

They then extended their lead with a thread-the-needle shot at the top of the circle courtesy of Die Danas in the final period.

The win sees Germany climb above Great Britain on the tournament standings into fifth place with four more matches to play.

The New Zealand women are eighth on the standings.

Earlier, after taking a surprise lead against the Netherlands, the Black Sticks men were edged 3-2 when the home side sealed a win in in the final minute of the game

The Black Sticks capitalised when they were awarded the first penalty corner of the match. Kane Russell stepped up and dragged it into the left of goal to edge his side ahead.

Russell then made it two off another penalty corner. This time his drag struck keeper Mauritz Visser on the leg, but it was not enough to stop it from finding the back of the net.

The Netherlands pulled one back in the third quarter when Justen Blok’s acute shot from just inside the circle wasn’t dealt with by the New Zealand defence and it bobbled into goal.

With just over two and a half minutes left in the match, the Netherlands earned a penalty corner. Jasper Brinkman’s shot deflected off the first runner and into goal to level matters and make for a thrilling finish.

It was then Blok who secured the last-gasp victory, blasting in the winner with four seconds remaining on the clock.

The New Zealand men now languish at the bottom of the pro league standings in ninth place.