6 Dec 2010

Reigning hockey champs start strong at Oceania Pacific Cup

11:58 am on 6 December 2010

There were no surprises after the opening round of matches at the Oceania Pacific Cup hockey tournament in Fiji.

Defending mens champions, the New Zealand Barbarians, thrashed Samoa 15-0, while last year's runners-up, Fiji, thumped Papua New Guinea 9-1 and Australian Country routed Fiji Warriors 10-1.

In the womens draw New Zealand Maori got their title defence off to a strong start with a 7-0 win over PNG, while Australian Country were also clinical in their 4-0 win over a Fiji President's XI.

Fiji's national women's side had an convincing 8-0 win over Samoa.