World Hockey

Award: Kayla Sharland (right) of New Zealand in Oceania Cup action vs Australia's Emily Smith (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)New Zealand  Black Sticks hockey co-captain Kayla Sharland and goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex have been announced as the 2011 Players of the Year at the Hockey New Zealand Awards Dinner held in Wellington on Saturday April 28.

The evening also acknowledged the unsung heroes of the sport presenting 20 recipients from throughout the country with bronze, silver or gold awards for the huge contribution they have made to the sport.

50th cap beckons:: South Africa's Wade Paton (left) - John Spence

South Africa men’s hockey team midfielder Wade Paton made his debut in the green and gold against Scotland in 2007 at the age of 20 and it was far from auspicious. 

Australia 3
Ashleigh Nelson FG 7m, Jade Close FG 8m, Georgia Nanscawen FG 15m  
New Zealand 1
Katie Glynn PC 49m

Australia hit back against New Zealand downing the Black Sticks 3-1 in the final of a second women's Four Nations Test Series in Auckland on Sunday.

The Black Sticks Women have won the Four Nations tournament with a 3-2 victory over Australia tonight at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium today.

After losing 3-1 in pool play to their trans-Tasman rivals, the home side clinched the title in the final.

Black Sticks captain Kayla Sharland, who had been in doubt for the match with stitches in her left knee, said it was the best 70 minutes of hockey from her team for a long time.

GOAL: Claire Messent scores for Australia vs USA on April 8, 2012 - Duane Hart/Sporting ImagesAustralia 3
USA 0

Hockeyroos goalkeeper Rachael Lynch saved everything the USA could throw at her to lead Australia to a 3-0 win in the final match of a three game series on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.

Wrongfooted: Jill Dwyer playing for Australia vs the US - the American's winning the first test of the series 1-0Australia 0
USA 1

The US women's field hockey team have defeated Australia 1-0 in the first of three tests being played downunder.

An eight minute penalty corner goal from Shannon Taylor separated the teams in the test played on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Thursday night.

Hat trick: Kieran Glovers in action vs Japan - Mundo ImagesAustralia 7
Japan 1

Australia completed a their hockey series clean sweep over Japan with a 7-1 win in the third test. The previous tests were won 3-1 and 3-0.  

Australia 7 
(Dwyer 4m FG/22m FG, Glenn Turner 28m FG, Simon Orchard 40m PS, Des Abbott 51m PC, Eddie Ockenden 52m FG, Jonathon Charlesworth 59m FG) 
China 0