By Lucas Ball
Congratulations to Holcombe’s Brad Read and Hayden Phillips who yesterday won bronze at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 with New Zealand courtesy of a 3-2 win over Malaysia.
Phillips and Read, both M1s players as well as W1s assistant coaches last season, played in all six matches in the tournament, with Read moving past 50 caps at the event – congratulations!
Neither were on the scoresheet but played a significant part throughout as Greg Nicol’s side stepped up their preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris later this year, with Phillips also set to leave Holcombe ahead of the new season.
The Black Sticks placed fourth in the group stage to set up the third/fourth-place play-off with Malaysia, who had earlier beaten them 6-4 in the third match of the tournament.
Nicol’s side actually won just two of their five group games to finish fourth, beating Canada 7-1 and Korea 4-1, also drawing 1-1 with Pakistan and losing 4-1 to Japan.
They then responded to overcome Malaysia to win bronze ahead of the FIH Nations Cup in Poland later this month.
Nicol, formerly of Holcombe, will coach his side against hosts Poland, Austria, South Africa and Korea from 31st May-4th June in Pool A ahead of the semi-finals for the top-two of each pool and 5th-8th ranking matches beginning on 8th June for those that finished third and fourth.
The tournament will conclude on 9th June with 7th/8th, 5th/6th, 3rd/4th place play-offs and the final to decide the gold medallists.