NZ opens tournament winning

The New Zealand men's hockey team has opened its World Cup qualifying tournament with a comfortable 6-2 win over Wales in Invercargill.

Andy Hayward bagged a hat-trick for the Black Sticks, then Nick Wilson scored a brace before captain Phil Burrows completed the scoring.

Black Sticks' coach Shane McLeod is mostly pleased, but says they switched off after halftime when they conceded two quick goals. McLeod says they made a couple of substitutions at halftime that did not reap the rewards they thought so they will learn from that mistake.

Earlier China beat Scotland 2-1. The winner of the six-team tournament progresses to next year's World Cup in Delhi.