Ireland end World Cup with defeat by New Zealand

Ireland have finished 10th at the Men's Hockey World Cup after losing 6-3 to New Zealand in their ninth/10th classification play-off game in Wavre in Belgium on Friday. Kane Russell's two penalty corners had New Zealand 2-0 ahead by the end of the first quarter, then a George Baker goal and a Sam Lane penalty corner saw them double their advantage by half-time. Two goals in the third quarter reduced Ireland's deficit, Gregory Williams finding the net from a penalty corner and Lee Cole converting a penalty stroke less than a minute later. New Zealand re-established their four-goal lead in the fourth quarter courtesy of another Lane penalty corner, with Finn Ward adding their sixth. Ireland scored the final goal of the game in the closing seconds through Jeremy Duncan's penalty corner. Mark Tumilty's side had missed out on a place in the knockout stages of the tournament after a defeat by Spain in their final group game last week.