The match for 9th place started well for the African Champions, Justin REID-ROSS scoring a penalty-corner in the 4th minute to grab an early lead. Both teams were playing high paced hockey despite the blaring afternoon sun. South Africa had the biggest share of play but were well contained by the Kiwis and could not progress close enough to the circle. New Zealand were more opportunistic and earned a penalty-corner on a rare incursion in the circle but could not capitalize.

After a green card to Lloyd NORRIS-JONES, momentum shifted, the Kiwis monopolized the ball and pushed South Africa on their heels for a long period of time but without creating much danger for Erasmus PIETERSE in goal. The best chance was for Shea MCALEESE shooting from close range but the South African keeper protected his goal with a spectacular save. Ryan ARCHIBALD and Blair HILTON, alone in the middle of circle, were at the reception of a free hit shot hard in the circle by Steven EDWARDS but they both missed the ball.

New Zealand finally equalized early in second period by Hugo INGLIS, perfectly set-up by Ryan ARCHIBALD, and took the lead less than a minute later on a penalty-corner by Andrew HAYWARD. The game suddenly opened up and Lloyd NORRIS-JONES tied the game for South Africa in the 45th minute after an acceleration that left stranded a couple of Kiwis and a shot from the top of the circle that left no chance to Kyle PONTIFEX in goal. However, nearly on the next play, New Zealand regained the lead with another Andrew HAYWARD’s penalty-corner... only to see Taine PATON level the game again with a reverse shot that surprised PONTIFEX. Five goals in less than ten minutes!

Thomas HAMMOND put South Africa back on top with an opportunistic follow-up on a ball bouncing in the circle that the defenders could not control. The Kiwis had to play short after a green card in the final ten minutes, lost some momentum and barely avoided another goal, but Andrew HAYWARD scored his third penalty-corner of the match with no time left on regulation time to push the game in overtime!

From there, it was anybody’s game and, with fatigue kicking in, both teams played cautiously for a while before creating more chances in the second period of overtime. Once again South Africa conceded a penalty-corner in the final seconds but Andrew HAYWARD could not convert this time and the fate of the game had to be decided by a penalty-stroke shootout, where New Zealand prevailed 5-4 after two saves by Kyle PONTIFEX.

New Zealand finished 9th but have been struggling since they lost their skipper Phillip BURROWS on injury after their second game in this World Cup. South Africa finished 10th; they have been playing well since their drubbing at the hands of Australia earlier in the competition and certainly finished on an ascending note, with victories over Pakistan, a draw with India and this close loss to New Zealand.

Match Facts (New Zealand v. South Africa):
> New Zealand beat South Africa 5-4 in a penalty stroke competition after a 4-4 draw in the Final 9-10 at Delhi 2010.> New Zealand finished ninth at a World Cup for the third time (1986, 2002, 2010).
> South Africa equalled their best result ever in World Cup competition by finishing 10th as they did in 1994.
> Andy Hayward netted 3 times today, to become the first New Zealand player since Hayden Shaw in 2002 to score a World Cup hat-trick.
> Hayward also became NZL’s top goal scorer with four goals at Delhi 2010.
> Lloyd Norris-Jones netted his third goal of the tournament to join Marvin Harper as RSA’s top goal scorers at Delhi 2010.
> NZL converted 3 from 5 penalty comers in today’s match.
> NZL’s PC record for the whole tournament is 6 for 15 (40%).
> RSA ended the Delhi 2010 World Cup penalty corner success rate at 4 for 17 (24%).