Day Two Reports - New Zealand Steamroll Forward
Day Two started with great anticipation - concluding with two tight games (Wales v Malaysia; Austria v China), either team could have taken the three competition points. However first up New Zealand had a dominant performance against Scotland, to continue to push for that top placing for the Final.
Match Four - Scotland v New Zealand: 0-8
After a slow start in yesterdays game New Zealand came out firing and took control from the start against their lesser ranked, Scotland.
Scotland was soon under pressure and NZL capitalised on good early possession when Hugo INGLIS scored a 16th minute field goal, his first international goal for the Senior team. That was followed ten minutes later with a field goal to Simon CHILD. A good first half showing was completed for NZL when captain Phil BURROWS got on the score sheet in the dying moments of the first half; going to the break with a solid lead.
Scotland started well in the second half and gave it their all, but NZL opened the second half scoring in the 46th minute, BURROWS being the scorer. While Scotland fought hard from the start of the second half, it was not the game plan to concede early on in the second spell.
With Scottish heads going down the flood gates opened and rising star was created for the NZL Black Sticks. Youngster Nick WILSON (19) scored a memorable four (4) goals in the space of twelve minutes to take the final score for NZL to eight goals.
The Standout for Scotland was Captain Christopher NELSON who still led from the front.
In post-match proceedings Scotland Coach Russell GARCIA spoke: ÔÇ£Very disappointed to concede eight goals. We got smashed! NZ are a much stronger team than we are. We are pleased with some aspects. Players did what was asked of them. We can learn from this, get something out of it.ÔÇØ
Shane McLeod (NZL coach) said that he was: ÔÇ£Really happy. We took a big step forward from the previous day. The performance was much more polished.ÔÇØ
Match Five - Wales v Malaysia: 1-2
Malaysia struggled in their opening match yesterday and had little cohesion particularly late in the game against Austria. It was almost an instant replay today against Wales.
Malaysia opened the scoring early in the fourth minute with a great field goal to Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin TENGKU ABDUL JALIL to get Malaysia off to a great start. With that start, things looked much better but they were unable to trouble the scorers again until a 32nd minute field goal, again to TENGKU ABDUL JALIL.
Malaysia went to the break with a 2-0 lead.
Malaysia's performance in the second half was almost a carbon copy to their second half performance in their previous game against Austria.
This time Wales having the better of the Malaysian players in the second spell, and in an uncanny happening in roughly the same stage of the game [against Austria], Malaysia conceded a goal with around fifteen minutes remaining in the match; the goal scored by the ever reliable Richard GAY for Wales from a slick penalty corner variation.
This set up a tough fought final ten or so minutes, which led to a scrappy conclusion, but Malaysia hung on by a thread to take the three competition points and get their campaign back on track.
Match Six - Austria v China: 1-2
The final game of the day again could have gone either way and Austria could have pulled of a draw. The first half was somewhat scrappy. Austria though holding almost holding off China for the first half. They would have done so but China was awarded a PC with just seconds remaining in the first half. All the Chinese players came up front and the shot by Yixian LIU for China was successful.
China went to the break lucky to have that lead after a less than convincing showing.
Second half proved to be extremely entertaining and just as even. Goals were shared - the first when China extended the lead in the 61st minute to Long SUN by field goal, thus being the catalyst for Austria to peg on back just three minutes later.
Austria almost picking up the draw in the final moments having the better territorial position, but a succession of missed opportunities was the difference on the day.
Teams head into the rest day tomorrow and will need to be refreshed as the Round Robin phase of the BDO World Cup Qualifier gets to critical stages. Matches resume Tuesday 10 November: Austria against Scotland; Wales play China; and New Zealand meet Malaysia.
BDO World Cup Qualifier, Men - Invercargill, New Zealand
Results Day 2: Sunday 8 November 2009
Scotland v New Zealand 0:8 (0:3)
NZL 16mn Hugo INGLIS (FG) 0:1
NZL 26mn Simon CHILD (FG) 0:2
NZL 34mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 0:3
NZL 46mn Phil BURROWS (FG) 0:4
NZL 48mn Nick WILSON (FG) 0:5
NZL 50mn Nick WILSON (PC) 0:6
NZL 58mn Nick WILSON (FG) 0:7
NZL 60mn Nick WILSON (FG) 0:8
Wales v Malaysia 1:2 (0:2)
MAS 4mn Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin TENGKU ABDUL JALIL (FG) 0:1
MAS 32mn Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin TENGKU ABDUL JALIL (FG) 0:2
WAL 51mn Richard GAY (PC) 1:2
Austria v China 1:2 (0:1)
CHN 35+mn Yixian LIU (PC) 0:1
CHN 61mn Long SUN (FG) 0:2
AUT 64mn Georg JELINEK (FG) 1:2
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