Men's Hockey: Ireland were left rueing the lack of a video umpire yesterday as they lost to hosts and favourites New Zealand at the Olympic qualifier in Auckland yesterday.

The Irish set about tackling their hosts full of the confidence gained from Saturday's 4-0 win over France. They took the lead after 16 minutes when Mark Gleghorne added another impressive penalty corner strike to the one he dispatched against the French.

With captain Paddy Brown pulling off some great interceptions at the heart of defence, the Irish were making a good fist of holding on to their advantage until controversy erupted on 25 minutes. A lofted shot from Simon Child was diverted past Irish goalkeeper David Harte off striker David Kosoof's body, with no stick contact.

As Kosoof massaged his sore chest, Dutch umpire Rob Ten Cate decided to allow the goal stand. The Irish failed to settle after this upset and conceded a second shortly afterwards, from Ben Collier, that put the Black Sticks one ahead at the break.

They extended their advantage on 46 minutes, again through Childs. Opportunities that fell to Mark Gleghorne and Andy Barbour from rebounds were not taken in the closing stages.

Ireland's chances of making the decider depend first of all on coming successfully through their games with Trinidad & Tobago (tomorrow) and the United States (Wednesday) with goal difference healthily boosted.

They will then go into Saturday's game with Argentina, ranked seventh in the world, with their Olympic flame very much still burning. The South Americans were scarcely troubled by their weekend exertions, picking off nine goals against the US and then seven against Trinidad & Tobago and top the table after two rounds of matches, ahead of New Zealand on goal difference.

Ireland's third place was the result of their good showing against the French. Gleghorne's expertise at the set-piece gave the eventual winners the advantage after eight minutes and they rode a wave of second-half confidence with John Jermyn and Mike Watt (two) completing their tally.

Back home, at the National Basketball Arena, last year's finalists in the Leinster indoor hockey league failed to make the semi-finals this time. With Pembroke Wanderers and Corinthians eliminated at the group stage, Railway Union, Monkstown, Three Rock Rovers and Glenanne swept into the last four instead.

IRELAND: D Harte, J Black, P Brown, I Lewers, R Gormley, G Shaw, D Hobbs, J Jermyn, M Gleghorne, E Magee, M Watt. Subs M. Black, A Barbour, S Butler, T Lewis, P Maguire.