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The Hague - New Zealand beat the South Africa men's hockey team 5-0 after leading 3-0 at half-time in a World Cup match in The Hague on Tuesday.
The Black Sticks made the most of their chances, in contrast to the African champions. In the fourth minute Simon Child did brilliantly to trap a difficult pass on his backhand and turn to smash a rising shot that flew past South Africa's keeper Rassie Pieterse at a tremendous pace (1-0).
In the 10th minute, South African striker Ignatius Malgraff's quick hands earned the first penalty corner of this fast-paced clash and captain Austin Smith's lightning-quick drag flick smashed into the crossbar and stayed out.
South Africa had another great opportunity shortly after, but the chance was lost in the final pass and the Kiwis hit back immediately to win their first penalty corner in the 15th minute, which Andy Hayward buried in the right-hand side of the backboard (2-0).
Hayward repeated the medicine two minutes later by taking the same option as his initial goal (3-0).
The Proteas had some cheer three minutes later when a left-to-right diagonal pass fired in by Jethro Eustice saw a flying Tim Drummond come close to deflecting into the goals.
And soon after Jonty Robinson, Tim Drummond and Julian Hykes combined to win a second penalty corner, from which SA had three chances to score but to no avail.
Two minutes into the second half Pieterse made a save and came off his line at the right time hardly a minute later. In the 42nd minute, Lloyd Madsen won South Africa's third penalty corner but the chance came to nothing.
The Kiwis' excellent patch of play marched on and in the 52nd minute Shea McAleese got a touch from Hayward's disguised penalty corner pass for the ball to flash high into the net (4-0).
In the 55th another Hayward penalty corner picked the same left-hand side of the goals as his initial brace of successful strikes and the drag-flick specialist had netted his hat-trick (5-0).
