#Glasgow2014: Kookaburras into Gold Medal Match

The Kookaburras will play for gold on Sunday after defeating England 4-1 in a semi final much closer than the final score suggested.

The pick of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games semi finals lived up to its hype, with England proving more than willing opponents for the World Champions.

It had appeared early as if Australia would smother England, after earning an early penalty corner and converting for a one goal lead, when Tristan White finished off a classy Kookaburras training ground variation.

England attempted to play their way back into the match but were dealt a further blow after 12 minutes, when Simon Orchard pounced on a defensive lapse to dispossess, play an intricate one-two with a teammate and finish off a well taken reverse stick shot for a two goal lead.

From this point on however, England steadied, and forced Australia into a more defence zone – particularly in the final five minutes of the first half.

Australia’s efforts to repel England saw three players green carded in a physical opening 35minutes.

England for their part were no angels either, with Jackson delivering a painful blow to Daniel Beale’s right knee, leaving the U21 World Cup winning captain, requiring assistance.

The second half produced more of the same, with England steadily working themselves into periods of dominance, which yielded dividends within 10 minutes of the re-start, when Harry Martin found himself on the end of an England attack, to get the final touch in to goal. Despite Australian protests of foot contact, the goal rightly stood.

England continued to press forward and there were a couple of nervy moments for Australia’s defence to cope with.

Australia took a giant step towards the gold medal match when Chris Ciriello scored his sixth goal of the tournament via another well taken penalty corner. England in their desperation to chase the game played 11 outfield players, sacrificing their goal keeper.

Australia punished this, causing a turnover late, to counterattack, with Eddie Ockenden able to finish into an empty goal for a 4-1 win to the Kookaburras.

The Kookaburras will now play for a fifth straight Commonwealth title against the winner of the New Zealand v India semi final clash.

WAIS athletes Fergus Kavanagh, Aran Zalewski, Trent Mitton and Kiel Brown all played for Kookaburras.