Black Sticks eves to play three Test series against England

The New Zealand women’s hockey team would fine-tune their preparations for the FIH Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals with a three Test hockey series against England eves.

According to Hockey New Zealand sources, the Black Sticks women would play a three Test series against England in the first week of June before they take part in the first FIH Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals which is slated to be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands from June 13-22.

It is learnt that the New Zealand eves would leave for London for the three Test series on June 1.

New Zealand are placed alongside Germany, India and Belgium in Pool B, while the hosts the Netherlands, Korea, Japan and Chile are clubbed in Pool A.

Host England are pitted alongside Australia, South Africa and Spain in Pool B, while world champions Argentina, China, USA and Italy are placed in Pool A.

The World League Round 3 competition is split into two eight-team competitions with one in Rotterdam and the other to be played in London.

The top four teams from both the semifinals would qualify for World League Round 4, to be played in Argentina in December. The top three countries also gain automatic berths for 2014 World Cup.

Earlier, the Black Sticks had a mixed bag in the recent two-leg Four Nations tournaments.

New Zealand were handed a 1-5 drubbing by world champions Argentina in the final of the second leg, which was held at Blake Park in Tauranga.

The Olympic silver medallists were earlier held to a 2-2 draw by New Zealand in the league phase of the second leg.

New Zealand won the first leg thumping South Korea 3-0 in a one-sided final showdown.

New Zealand’s team Australian head coach Mark Hager picked 18 players for the first FIH Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals.

The Black Sticks eves team have a fair sprinkling of youth and experience, with as many as eight players having played more than 100 international caps. The team also features four under-21 players.

20-year-old Sian Fremaux, who recently emerged as the top goal-scorer in the first of the two-leg Four Nations tournaments in Whangarei, was also named in the squad.

The squad: Bridget Blackwood, Sam Charlton, Gemma Flynn, Krystal Forgesson, Sian Fremaux, Katie Glynn, Charlotte Harrison, Pippa Hayward, Rose Keddell, Julia King, Stacey Michelson, Emily Naylor, Anita Punt, Cassandra Reid, Bianca Russell, Sally Rutherford, Kayla Sharland, Petrea Webster.