Black Sticks take convincing win 

The New Zealand men's hockey team has shown it has got some depth in its drag-flicking stocks.

In the absence of drag flick specialist Hayden Shaw, Andy Hayward has scored a hat-trick from penalty corners in the Black Sticks' 6-2 win over Wales in their opening match at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Invercargill.

Black Sticks coach Shane McLeod says they have spent a lot of work developing Hayward's drag flick as there has to be life after Shaw.

McLeod says Hayward is still behind Shaw in the pecking order but the gap between the two is getting smaller.

Eighteen-year-old Nick Wilson opened the scoring for New Zealand, in the 17th minute, after he found himself on the receiving end of a fortuitous deflection, right in front of goal. Wilson aggressively banged home an aerial shot from close range, to stamp his first mark on the tournament. It was the first of two goals in the match for Wilson.

The Black Sticks' other goal was scored by Phil Burrows. Richard Gay netted Wales' two goals.

In the day's other matches, China beat Scotland 2-1, while Malaysia has drawn 2-2 with Austria.

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