The New Zealand men's hockey team's World Cup campaign is over after a 2-0 defeat to England in the first knockout round.
The Black Sticks men at the 2018 World Cup in India. Photo: Photosport
The result means the Black Sticks will finish between ninth and 12th at the tournament in Bhubaneshwar, India, unable to improve on the team's best finish of seventh, which has happened on four occasions.
Ranked two places below the world No 7 England side, New Zealand started in solid fashion on Tuesday (NZ time) and were level at quartertime.
But after absorbing early pressure in the second stanza, England took the lead in the 25th minute when Will Calnan scored a well-worked team goal.
That advantage was doubled just prior to the final break when Luke Taylor pounced to put the ball in after the initial shot at a penalty corner came back off the post.
Stephen Jenness and Nick Ross both had good opportunities to pull a goal back in the fourth quarter, but England goalkeeper George Pinner stood tall.
New Zealand pulled off their goalkeeper Richard Joyce with 10 minutes remaining to gain an extra field player, but the ploy didn't change the scoreboard as the English side comfortably held on to earn a place in the quarterfinals.
The Black Sticks finished the tournament with one win, one draw and two losses.
The New Zealand men have now lost all four matches they have played against England at World Cups.