The New Zealand women's hockey team have defended their Oceania Cup title with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Australia in the final match of the three test series in Hobart.
After losing the first match 2-1 and drawing the second test 3-all, the Black Sticks trailed their Australian counterparts one game to nil heading into the decider.
A New Zealand win by a goal would of sent the series to a penalty shootout, however a victory by two goals ensured New Zealand retained the Cup, which they won in 2009 in Invercargill.
The Oceania Cup was going to be a three-way qualifier for next year's London Olympics for both the men and the women, but Fiji pulled out and with two spots available, both New Zealand and Australia will qualify.
The Black Sticks hold onto their world ranking of sixth, while Australia remain seventh.
