WELLINGTON: The Australian men and New Zealand women took the honours in the Oceania Cup finals at Invercargill on Saturday and earned direct entry into next year’s World Cup.

Australia beat New Zealand 3-1 in the men’s final while New Zealand beat Australia 4-3 on penalties in the women’s final, which was locked 2-2 at the end of regulation time after the Kiwis came from behind.

In the men’s showdown, Australia led 2-1 at halftime from two Grant Schubert penalty corner flicks with New Zealand’s sole goal to Nick Wilson sandwiched in between.

New Zealand went close to equalising with a minute to play when drag-flick expert Hayden Shaw put the ball just wide of the left post.

Australia then swept down field and in the final play of the match Jamie Dwyer found the net with a deft shot from a penalty corner.

The women’s final was tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation time and both sides failed to break the deadlock in the golden goal extra time.

When the match went down to penalty strokes Kate Mahon nailed the decider for New Zealand after Australia’s Casey Eastham missed her second stroke.

New Zealand, who beat Australia in the 2007 Oceania final, had to come from behind after Australia went 2-0 up.

Goalkeeper Beth Jurgeleit and her defenders staved off seven corners before Eastham opened the scoring in the first half and Megan Rivers put them 2-0 ahead with a field goal early in the second half.

But New Zealand fought back with goals to Clarissa Eshuis and Kayla Sharland forcing the game into extra time and then the deciding shoot-out.