Black Sticks midfielder Sean Findlay Photo: DIRK WAEM
The Black Sticks men came crashing back to earth with a 3-1 trans-Tasman hockey defeat in Whangarei in the third and final match of the Oceania Cup.
Australia fulfilled its mission of Olympic qualification to become the first nation aside from the hosts to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In a storming start to the third match of the series the Kookaburras scored two goals in the first quarter and held on to secure the series win.
Both sides rose to the occasion with New Zealand able to cut the deficit to 2-1 by half-time.
"We're stoked to go to Paris," said a thrilled Australian captain Aaron Zalewski.
The Kookaburras won the first and third tests 3-1, but were defeated by New Zealand in the second.
"I'm really proud of our boys to fight out a close win and keep the scoreboard in our favour today," Zalewski said.
Australia made amends for New Zealand's 4-2 triumph in the second test, but that performance will inspire New Zealand on the road to Paris.
The Black Sticks men can still push for an Olympic berth at a qualifying tournament next January, with the location yet to be determined.
"It's heartbreaking, but it's just the start of something, our boys have grown," Black Sticks captain Nic Woods said.
"Aussie are a fantastic side. They're a class act so to be able to compete and beat them (in the second game), we can take that forward."
The Black Sticks women suffered a 3-2 loss to Australia in their third and final match after a 1-1 draw in the second game and a comprehensive 3-0 defeat in the series opener.
The World No. 2 ranked Hockeyroos, like the Kookaburras, claimed direct qualification to next year's Olympics.
Black Sticks women's captain Megan Hull said it was back to the drawing board for her side but she was buoyed by two improved performances following the 3-0 thrashing in the first test.
"I thought we were a lot stronger on the ball and had a lot more fight in there," she said.
"But obviously we can't let that many goals in."
The Olympic hockey men's qualifying tournaments will be held in Pakistan and Spain at the start of next year.
While the women's events are in China and Spain, also in January.
Which events the New Zealand teams attend will be determined after the Pan American tournament in November.
- RNZ
