Dane Lett congratulating Hugo Inglis after his goal against Canada. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
HOCKEY
Dalefield skipper Dane Lett has featured prominently for the Black Stick men’s hockey team, which was aiming for their third successive win in pool play at the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast on Tuesday afternoon.
As well as impressing with his distribution skills and solid defence kills, Lett got himself on the scoresheet when the Kiwis opened their Games campaign with a convincing 6-2 victory over Canada. He flicked the ball into the back of the net from a penalty corner to give the Black Sticks a 4-0 advantage after earlier goals from Kane Russell, Nic Woods and George Muir.
A Stephen Jenness goal then made it 5-0 to the Black Sticks and after Canada made a mini comeback with two goals, Hugo Inglis chalked up number six for the New Zealanders.
It was a similarly dominant performance from the Black Sticks in their second game, racing out to a 4-0 lead over South Africa by half-time and adding two further goals without reply in the second spell. Russell scored two of the goals with others going to Woods, Muir, Jared Panchia and Nick Ross.
Skipper Arun Panchia was delighted with the Black Sticks effort.
“We’re a good side with a lot of young talent and just having the belief we cannot only win games but win them well is showing on the field. We know every game counts, so we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas.”
