Australia Secures Dual Oceania Cup Success

Australia has secured dual Oceania Cup success as the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos both claimed victory over New Zealand in Sydney over the weekend.

The Kookaburras secured a 10th title after an early blitz set up a 6-0 win over New Zealand at Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre on Sunday night.

Australia scored twice in the first five minutes of the opening two quarters to set up the win.

WA athletes Tom Wickham and Aran Zalewski both finished with doubles, while the ever-industrious Jake Whetton and Dylan Wotherspoon got the other goals.

Australia’s success comes ahead of next month’s International Festival of Hockey in Bendigo and Melbourne and the World League Finals in India in December.

Wickham’s double bookended the Kookaburras’ success, with Zalewski adding the fourth and fifth goals for the men in gold.

The duo were joined in action by fellow West Aussie talents, Tyler Lovell and Trent Mitton.

A day earlier, the Hockeyroos exacted revenge over their Rio Olympic conquerors New Zealand through a hard fought 2-0 win to claim their third consecutive Oceania Cup title.

First-half goals from Jane Claxton and Kristina Bates were the difference with Australia holding off the Black Sticks’ attempts to rally in the second half.

Australia had already claimed 2018 World Cup qualification berth but will gain a rankings points boost from the triumph over their regional rivals.

Australia started in perfect fashion, with new captain Emily Smith providing a precise pass for Claxton who fired past Black Sticks keeper Sally Rutherford from just inside the shooting circle.

Madi Ratcliffe had a penalty corner saved late in the first quarter, while Smith set up Claxton for another chance which went wide.

Late in the first half, goalkeeper Rachael Lynch did brilliantly to deny Rachel McCann, before Australia scored their second.

The goal came in dramatic circumstances with Bates deflecting into the back of the net with barely seconds to play in the first half.

Australia had plenty of momentum after Bates’ goal with the parochial home crowd but New Zealand came out the stronger in the second half.

Jocelyn Bartram smothered a McCann chance when in one-on-one, but she did one better with an athletic stretching left-foot save from Stacey Michelsen’s angled shot.

Smith couldn’t deflect a Ratcliffe drive on target late in the third quarter before spurning a chance on a counter-attack.

Amy Robinson had the best chance of the last quarter for NZ but pushed her shot wide, as Australia held firm to collect the regional title.

Local stars Kathryn Slattery and Georgia Wilson both featured prominently for Australia’s throughout its Oceania Cup success.

• HockeyAus