Black Sticks women defeat Australia to win Oceania Cup

Emily Smith of the Hockeyroos competes with Kayla Sharland of the Blacksticks, Oceania Cup, 2011. Mark Dadswell/Getty ImagesNew Zealand women's hockey side have won the third and final test match of the Oceania Cup 4-2 to clinch the series on goal difference. This is the first time that the Black Sticks women have won a three match test series against Australia.

The Black Sticks opened the scoring with a penalty corner variation conversion at the five minute mark by Charlotte Harrison.

In the 14th minute, Australia earned a penalty corner of their own and duly converted with a well executed drag flick into the roof of the net by Jodie Schultz.

Black Sticks captain Kayla Sharland scored a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle to give New Zealand the lead in the 20th minute.  The remaining 15 minutes of the first half was end-to-end hockey with both teams searching for a way through the opposition defence.