Dane Lett. Photo: Photosport
The understrength Black Sticks men have gone down heavily to Great Britain in their opening game of a tri-series tournament in Christchurch.
Missing a number of key players to European club commitments, the New Zealand fielded a number of debutantes and young players who put up resistance before being beaten 5-2.
The opening goal came after a misdirected British aerial took a deflection with the ball falling kindly for Zach Wallace, who dispatched it into the goal off the volley with ferocious power
The second quarter was highlighted by four goals in just eighth minutes, with Great Britain adding three more to their tally while New Zealand scored their first to captain Dane Lett from a penalty corner.
The second half was a much closer affair.
Great Britain scored their fifth via a long ball into the circle which found the stick of Rupert Shipperly.
The Black Sticks added their second in the final quarter through a long distance shot from Connor Greentree.
- RNZ