Black Sticks finish on a high at Hockey World Cup
The Black Sticks Men have finished a creditable ninth after victory over Ireland while the New Zealand women's team completed their 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup campaign in 15th
The men beat Ireland 6-3 in the ninth/10th classification play-off game in Wavre, Belgium with Kane Russell's two penalty corners giving the kiwis a lead by the end of the first quarter, then a George Baker goal and a Sam Lane penalty corner saw them double their advantage to 4-0 at half-time.
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Two goals in the third quarter reduced Ireland's deficit, Gregory Williams finding the net from a penalty corner and Lee Cole converting a penalty stroke less than a minute later.
New Zealand re-established their four-goal lead in the fourth quarter courtesy of another Lane penalty corner, with Finn Ward adding their sixth.
Ireland scored the final goal of the game in the closing seconds through Jeremy Duncan's penalty corner.
Meanwhile the women's final tournament placing is well below the group expectations the last game result was a positive 3-2 win over Chile.
New Zealand made a strong start and took the lead through Kaitlin Cotter, whose penalty corner flick took a deflection off a Chilean defender and into the back of the net.
Chile responded to level the scores before taking the lead in the third quarter, leaving the Vantage Black Sticks with work to do heading into the final stages of the match.
The response came through Riana Pho, who once again showed her danger from the top of the circle, firing home a powerful penalty corner flick to bring New Zealand level.
With the match heading towards a shootouts, the Black Sticks continued to push for a winner.
Persistence was rewarded with just over three minutes remaining when Paige Blake's shot was saved by the Chilean goalkeeper, but Katie Doar stayed with the play and reacted quickest to finish the rebound and secure a 3-2 victory.
