Trans Tasman Trophy: Hockeyroos and Blacksticks series comes down to final game after another draw

The Hockeyroos and the Blacksticks remain deadlocked in their Trans Tasman hockey series, but it could have been so much different if livewire forward Rosie Malone had not pounced.

Rosie Malone celebrates scoring the equaliser against New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

The Hockeyroos have snatched a thrilling draw from the jaws of defeat in Game 3 of the Trans Tasman Hockey Series in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Just as it looked like the Blacksticks would be the first women’s team to taste victory in the four-game series, livewire forward Rosie Malone pounced on a loose ball with the clock counting down to hammer home an equaliser for the Hockeyroos — the final score 2-2.

Earlier a penalty corner strike from Madison Fitzpatrick handed the Hockeyroos the opening goal, with the Cabarita Beach product firing home a drag flick to give Australia a deserved 1-0 lead.

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Malone is congratulated on scoring the late goal by Emily Chalker. Picture: Getty Images

The Australians were dominant for long passages of play in the opening half, but when a piercing long ball from Kiwi star Stacey Michelsen found an unmarked Julia King in the attacking circle, the Blacksticks striker calmly worked her around the advancing Ashlee Wells to knock ball home and tie the game up.

The home side was unlucky not to go into the halftime break ahead after bungling a golden opportunity.

Olivia Merry finding herself in a tonne of space before passing to a wide open Olivia Shannon in front of the Australian net. The second-gamer’s deflection missing by a matter of inches as Wells breathed a sigh of relief.

New Zealand broke the deadlock midway through the third quarter, Ella Gunson swooping on a penalty corner rebound to nudge the ball under Australian goalkeeper Rachael Lynch as defeat loomed.

But it was Malone who pulled a result out of the fire for the world number five side, scoring for the second time in three games to ensure the winner of the fourth and final match on Tuesday takes out the series.

Hugo Inglis is challenged by Nathan Ephraums. Picture: Getty Images

In the men’s game, the Kookaburras continued their winning ways with a scrappy 4-2 triumph over New Zealand in a chippy affair.

Trent Mitton opened the scoring with a neat tap-in on the back post following some clever work from Blake Govers and Jake Harvie.

Before Jeremy Hayward doubled the visitors’ advantage with a bullet-like drag flick past brother Leon for the second game in a row.

The older Hayward brother playing for New Zealand after switching allegiances only 18 months ago.

Kane Russell clawed one back for the home side with his own penalty corner conversion, before the sides exchanged goals just before halftime.

First it was Govers who calmly slotted home a penalty stroke, before Kiwi youngster Oliver MacIntyre ripped in his first international goal from a penalty corner.

Nathan Ephraums doubled his international goal tally five minutes into the second half — with the Victorian product hanging his stick out for a clever reverse stick deflection to make it 4-2.

Tensions threatened to boil over in the final quarter as both side’s lost players to the sin bin, but it was the Kookaburras who prevailed 4-2, sealing the series in the process with one game to play.

Originally published as Trans Tasman Trophy: Hockeyroos and Blacksticks series comes down to final game after another draw