JONTY Elmes slammed a hat-trick as New Zealand secured a 3-1 victory over Japan, a result which placed the Junior Black Sticks in a comfortable position towards qualifying for the final.
Elmes broke the ice when he kept the Japanese on the back foot by converting penalty corners in the eighth and 33rd minutes, and a penalty stroke in the 20th minute, as the match progressed into the third quarter.
The goals were Elmes’ seventh in four matches. He also scored a brace in the 3-2 victory over Malaysia, and one goal each against Australia and Great Britain respectively.
Aaron Ford, New Zealand coach said: “We are not quite happy with the performance, especially in the second half. There were multiple penalty corners and luckily, we converted our penalty corners well.”
“We wanted to play an attacking brand of hockey and be aggressive in our approach. What is important is we were in a position to defend well and also make sure we are able to go on the counter attack without losing control of our game,” added Ford.
Following this triumph, New Zealand maintained second spot in the table standings by amassing eight points – one below table toppers India who have nine points.
The 19-year-old from Napier made his debut for the Black Sticks in the 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, where he won a bronze medal, and was also named in the senior squad for the FIH Nations Cup in Gniezno, Poland.
This is Elmes’s second appearance at the SOJC.
The Junior Black Sticks had five penalty corners in their favour and one penalty stroke in the first half while Japan had two.
Despite the setback, coach Yoshihiro Anai’s boys responded with resilience. Team captain Yamato Kawahara pulled one back for Japan in the 59th minute through a field goal.
Japan’s Rakusei Yamanaka holds the ball against New Zealand in the SOJC on Wednesday. New Zealand won 3-1
Jonty Elmes from New Zealand receives the Man of the Match award from Mr Hashim Mohamed Yusoff, Executive Secretary of Johor HA