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The Hockeyroos have settled for silver at the Commonwealth Games, after being beaten by New Zealand in the gold medal match at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

The Hockeyroos entered the final without conceding a goal in five matches leading up to the final, but a 14-minute spell where they conceded three goals consigned them to silver.

Scores were locked after the first stanza but the Black Sticks struck nearing half time, through Shiloh Gloyn to take the advantage.

Rose Keddell extended the advantage early in the third quarter and when Olivia Merry stroked home a penalty corner to make it 3-0 the Australians had it all to do, leading into the final term.

Australia got one back through a Jodie Kenny penalty corner in the 50th minute before an Anita McLaren penalty flick four minutes from fulltime ended any thoughts of a comeback.

Speaking after the game, Captain Emily Smith expressed her disappointed with her team’s performance and the outcome, but is keen to use the experience as an opportunity to improve and learn.

Head Coach Paul Gaudoin also added;

“We’ve got a relatively young group and I hope it sticks in their minds, what it feels like because they need to anticipate and expect that type of contest all the time.”

“We want them to understand silver is not good enough. We don’t want to be second best, we want to win and be on top of the podium.”

“Our essential skill execution let us down. Once we were chasing the game we had to try and make something happen. We took the goalkeeper off and that opened it up. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to nullify New Zealand.”

Although the Roos faltered, the Kookaburras remain on track to claim an unprecedented sixth straight Commonwealth Games title. The Kookas will also meet trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand in what will also be skipper Mark Knowles’ emotional farewell.