The BDO Women’s Champions Challenge 1 hockey tournament has been decided in favour of New Zealand’s ‘Black Sticks’, who beat hosts South Africa 2-1 at Hartleyvale, Cape Town, on Sunday.

Despite slipping to a 0-1 defeat to Japan on the penultimate day, New Zealand’s prior results had already qualified it for the international tournament final, and having won it, the Black Sticks have also qualified for the 2010 Champions Trophy, in Nottingham, England.

The tournament final featured the two best teams of the competition to end an exciting BDO Champions Challenge I Women in Cape Town, and after a balanced start which saw South Africa fail to capatilise from a number of good opportunities, New Zealand slowly picked up momentum, controlled the ball well, and increased their share of ball possession.

Anita Punt opened scoring in the match by putting New Zealand into an early lead in the 17th minute for the match’s only field goal, and then Clarissa Eshuis put the visitors into a commanding lead, in the 31st minute from a penalty corner.

South Africa rose to the challenge after the re-start, and the two teams both boasted good action, with circle action at either end of the field, with the local girls intensifying their efforts as the clock ticked down, and eventually opened scoring with a penalty corner from Kate Woods

A string of chances followed for South Africa, but none found the back of the net, and despite an enthusiastic supporters in the well-filled stadium, the girls in green and gold could not find that elusive equaliser.

In the award ceremony, Farah Fredericks (South Africa) and Clarissa Eshuis (New Zealand) were presented with individual awards as the tournament’s joint topscorers, while Mariette Rix won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award, and the Player of the Tournament award going to Gemma Flynn (New Zealand).

In the other matches of the final day of, Julieta Franco for Italy scored twice in three goals without reply victory over Chile for a claimed 5th-place final position in the tournament rankings, while Japan slipped past Spain to take bronze with a single goal to the good.

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