New Zealand’s 20-year wait for Commonwealth Games gold is over, the Black Sticks putting on a clinic in Saturday’s 4-1 decider victory over Orange’s Eddie Bone and her Hockeyroos.
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Bone and her Australian outfit entered the final without conceding a goal leading in, but were resigned to the silver medal after a 14-minute blitz that netted New Zealand three goals and put the Hockeyroos’ hopes of a fourth straight gold to bed.
Shiloh Gloyn's slap pushed the Kiwis in front just before half-time, before Rose Keddell and Olivia Merry set up a commanding 3-0 lead with a quarter to go on Saturday.
Australia pegged one back through Jodie Kenny's darting penalty corner in the 50th minute before an Anita McLaren penalty flick four minutes from full-time sealed the Black Sticks’ win.
While “bitterly disappointed”, Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin says his side must learn from the defeat ahead of the World Cup in July and August and then the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as well.
“I don’t think we came and played the game that we wanted today,” he said.
“New Zealand came and showed their experience in finals more than we did.
“What we want to do is make sure we use what happened today as an opportunity to learn and improve in our lead-up to the World Cup in July and also Tokyo in two years’ time.
“We’ve got a relatively young group who’ll learn a lot from this.
“I hope it sticks in their minds as to what it feels like because they have to expect and anticipate that all the time.”
The Hockeyroos group has evolved greatly since the 2016 Rio Olympics and the side missed the World League Final in New Zealand last year, so they’re short of big-game experience and the pressure which comes with that.
“We want them to understand it’s not good enough,” Gaudoin said.
“We don’t want to be second best and we want to be the winners on the podium.
“That’s why this is a great opportunity to play in front of a packed house in a pressured game which is what this was, as was the semi-final.
“We want to be able to use this to our advantage next time.”
Hockeyroos skipper Emily Smith echoed Gaudoin’s sentiment, insisting that they weren’t satisfied with a silver medal.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” Crookwell product Smith said.
“There’s a lot to learn coming out of that final.
“It’s something we’ll have to make sure we use this opportunity. It’s a huge motivation.”