Otago's new Fab Four help NZ to victory
Otago hockey has a new Fab Four.
Benji Culhane, Malachi Buschl and brothers Finn and Patrick Ward have helped the Black Sticks men charge to victory in the Nations Cup in Malaysia.
They are treading in the footsteps of Otago greats Hugo Inglis, Blair Tarrant, Kane Russell and Nick Ross, who made many of their own special memories in national colours.
The Black Sticks thumped Pakistan 6-2 in the final in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to seal back-to-back Nations Cup wins.
The atmosphere at the National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur was electric with a bumper crowd containing passionate Pakistan supports and a handful of Kiwis.
There was something of a chaotic start as Scott Boyde appeared to open the scoring for the New Zealanders inside the first minute but it was overturned after a referral.
Two minutes later, Sean Findlay found the net from a penalty corner, but again it was referred and again it was ruled out.
Finally, in-form forward Scott Cosslett stepped up to bury a drag flick to give the Black Sticks the lead.
Sam Hiha made it 2-0 late in the first quarter with a deflected field goal, but the Black Sticks felt they could easily have been up by four or five goals.
Two more goals in the first four minutes of the second quarter meant the game was effectively under control.
Dylan Thomas and Sean Findlay both delivered quality finishes as the Black Sticks camped in the Pakistan half.
Boyde added another field goal to make it 5–0 by the end of the second quarter.
New Zealand had 22 scoring opportunities in the first half to Pakistan's four, reflecting the gulf in performance between the sides.
Pakistan came out stronger in the third quarter and managed to pull back one goal.
The final quarter had a bit of everything as Pakistan kept pushing but the New Zealand defence held strong.
Dom Dixon had some clutch defensive moments in goal, and the team stayed composed as the intensity lifted.
With three minutes to go, the Black Sticks were awarded a penalty corner, resulting in another Cosslett goal, and a late Pakistan score was mere consolation.
It followed a dramatic semifinal win after a penalty shootout against Korea.
Jonty Elmes and Thomas gave the Black Sticks a 2-0 lead but Korea scored twice to send the game to strokes.
Louis Beckert stepped into the New Zealand goal for the shootout and made two early saves, and Nic Woods stepped up to bury the final stroke to send the Black Sticks into the final.
Woods, as he was last year, was later named the tournament's most valuable player, and Dixon was named best goalkeeper.
"It's nice to have one of those games where things just come together and it all clicked today," Woods said after the final.
"I'm very happy that it happened in the final and very happy for our success, and looking forward to what we can accomplish together."
Last year, Hockey New Zealand elected not to accept promotion for the Black Sticks into the top-tier FIH Pro League due to concerns around economics, timing and long-term funding for the Olympic cycle.
It remains to be seen whether they will chose to go back to the top league.
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