World Hockey

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.

Simon Orchard of the Kookaburras (left) competes with Hugo Inglis of New Zealand as Australia retain the Oceania Cup in Hobart. Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty ImagesAustralia have won the 2011 Oceania Cup after a dominant 6-1 win over New Zealand in the final and deciding match at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in Hobart.

Threatened with losing their number one ranking if they did not win by four goals, the Kookaburras played out the match with real intensity and purpose.

The Kookaburras and the Blacksticks play each other in the first of a best of three series for the Oceania Cup on Thursday October 6, 7.30am UK time.

Hockey Australia are promising live internet streaming of both the men's and women's tournament at http://hockey.org.au/index.php?id=527 

The match scedule is as follows (Hobart is 10 hours ahead of UK - UK times in brackets)

The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras have today confirmed their squads to compete against New Zealand in next week’s Oceania Cup-Olympic Qualifier event in Hobart from October 6-9.

With Fiji recently withdrawing from the tournament both Australia’s and New Zealand’s men’s and women’s teams have received automatic qualification to the 2012 London Olympics.

However with world ranking points still on the line there remains plenty to play for, particularly for the Hockeyroos and New Zealand’s women’s team who will be placed in the same pool at the London Olympics. 

Four-time world hockey player of the year and Olympic gold medallist Jamie Dwyer is set to make his return to hockey in the 2011 Oceania Cup Olympic Qualifier in Hobart from October 5-9.

Fiji's men and women's sides have withdrawn from the tournament for financial reasons leaving Australia and New Zealand as automatic qualifiers for London 2012 in both men's and women's hockey.

The tournament has now been re-jigged as a best of three series.