CWG: New Zealand bags hockey bronze

NEW DELHI - New Zealand returned to the podium after eight years with a 8-6 tie-breaker win against England to claim the bronze medal in the mens hockey competition of the Commonwealth Games here Thursday.

The Kiwis, silver medallists at the 2002 Games, squandered a 3-1 advantage as England clawed their way back into the game that was marred by far too many stoppages to allow the teams to get into any sort of rhythm.

Two penalty stroke conversions by Dean Couzins and Hayden Shaw, and a field goal by Nick Haig featured the Kiwi score-sheet while for England, the Mantell brothers, Richard and Simon, and James Tindall scored.

In the tie-breaker, the Kiwis got their five strokes on target through Couzins, Phil Burrows, Hayden Shaw, Andrew Hayward and Shea McAleese while England converted only three of their four attempts with Richard Smith, Richard Mantell and Ashley Jackson being on target.

Adam Dixon of England, taking the fourth stroke, essayed a weak push that goalkeeper Kylie Pontifex blocked.

The regulation period and the 15-minutes extra-time were a tale of missed chances that put the rival forwards in poor light.