1st Hockey Test: South Korea hold Black Sticks 1-1

File Photo of Dean Couzins of New Zealand who was taken off after suffering a nasty blow below his knee. (Getty Images)

New Zealand were held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea in the first of the six-match hockey Test series at the Rangitoto College in Auckland.

The world number six Black Sticks seized the initiative first up and took the lead when striker Hugo Inglis sounded the board in the 16th minute.

The Shin Kyo Seok-coached South Korean outfit responded to the early strike with consistent raids on the New Zealand citadel. They were rewarded when Nam Yong Lee brought the match on an even kneel just before the half-time hooter was blown.

New Zealand captain Dean Couzins was solid in defence before he walked off the pitch with a nasty blow just below his knee. Young fullback Alex Shaw showed a lot of spunk in the absence of Couzins.

Eight ranked South Koreans forced as many as five penalty corners but failed to profit from them. New Zealand goalkeeper Devon Manchester was instrumental in keeping the Koreans at bay pulling off several critical saves. The home side also muffed up two of their short corners.

The Black Sticks had a great opportunity to score the match-clincher in the closing stages of the match but an unmarked Isaac Staples slammed it wide five metres from the Korean goal.

South Korea recently played a four-match Test series against Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth. The Asian giants won the first Test 4-1 in penalty shoot out after both teams were locked goalless in regulation time.

Stung by the opening Test defeat, Australia came out firing in the second Test. Local boy Trent Milton pulled off a superb hat-trick as the Kookaburras thumped the Redshirts 5-2.

South Korea then took the upper hand leading 3-2 in the third Test but were denied a much deserved win by a late equaliser from Matt Williams, who made his senior international debut during the ongoing four-match Test series.

Australia then wrapped up the series in style crushing the Koreans 4-0 in the fourth and final Test. Trent Milton, Russell Ford, Kieren Govers and Rob Hammond scored for the Kookaburras.

The Perth Hockey Stadium had also recently hosted the four-match Test series between the South Korea and Australian women. The series ended with both team sharing the honours, winning two matches apiece.

The Hockeyroos won the opening Test 4-2 before the South Koreans hit back to win the second Test 2-1. Australia clinched the third Test 6-0 before South Korea won the final Test 3-1.