New Zealand’s Black Sticks are finally due to make a long-anticipated return to international hockey, and back home, no less, when both the men’s and the women’s sides take on Australia in four games each in Palmerston North.
The games to be played will form the totality of the Trans-Tasman series at Massey University at the end of May – for both the men’s and the women’s sides their first international matches in over a year due to the ongoing global health crisis. The upcoming series will also act as the final selection event before this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
For the Black Sticks women’s side, the series will be even more of a celebratory homecoming event, with the side not having played at Palmerston North since 2014. The men, too, will be returning after a long time away, with the men’s side having last played at the venue in 2009 against Malaysia.
For Black Sticks goalkeeper Georgia Barnett, who is originally from Palmerston North, the homecoming will have a significantly personal touch. The star playmaker said she’s excited about making her return to the international arena, and even more so since she’ll be playing at home. According to the 26-year-old, New Zealand has been trying for quite some time now to organise a contest against Australia, but without knowing exactly where the competition would be played.
Both Black Sticks sides have been training and playing as if Tokyo remains a done deal, and so they’ve said they’re more than ready for the upcoming games against their Australian counterparts.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Betway | | 4.9/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
| 4 |  | Picklebet | | 4.7/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
NHL Pulls Plug On Beijing Winter Olympics
The NHL has decided not to send its players to compete in the Beijing Olympics due to the new variant and a global rise in infections. The league announced last September that it would press pause on its regular season so as to allow the world’s top men’s ice hockey ….
Pakistan and Malaysia End Game in Draw
Four-time champions Pakistan played a hard game against Malaysia that ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw for their Pool D match as both teams remained in the hunt for a knock-out round for the Men’s Hockey World Cup. After being unable to break the deadlock for a time, Pakistan managed ….
New Zealand Beats France in Men’s Hockey World Cup
Stephen Jenness and Kane Russell helped their team beat France 2-1 in the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018. The Blacks Sticks managed to outscore France in their opening game played at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar. The first quarter saw neither goals scoring at all. The second quarter saw ….
Dutch Make Strong Start At World Cup
Team Netherlands, the defending champions from last season’s Hockey World Cup managed to score three goals within the first 9 minutes of the opening pool of this year’s tournament. The Netherlands finished off with a 7-0 against South Korea, giving them a solid head start as the bulk of the ….
Capitals’ Devante Smith-Pelly On Potential White House Visit
The Capitals are just one win away from the Stanley Cup trophy, and while the team has said that they are not ready to think about celebrations, one player in particular has told reporters about what his thoughts are on a championship tradition. Forward for the Capitals, Devante Smith-Pelly stated ….