Burras Seal Series Win with 5-1 Result Over NZ

The Australian U23 Burras recorded their biggest victory of the week on Wednesday, overcoming rivals New Zealand 5-1 in Canberra to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

Queenslander Hugh Pembroke’s penalty corner opener on 26 minutes gave Australia the lead and two minutes later Isaac Farmillo of NSW doubled the advantage from open play.

The Kiwi visitors fought back on the stroke of half time with a penalty corner conversion from Brennan Alexander-Parker and the goals kept flowing as the third quarter began. Two goals in the opening six minutes of the period, from ACT home favourite Stuart Shepherd and Queensland’s MacKenzie Warne, pulled the Burras further out in front.

A minute from full time Shepherd bagged his second of the game, Australia’s fifth, to round out the result, 5-1.

The Burras squad includes WAIS scholarship athletes James Benetti, Simon Benetti and Marshall Roberts.

The fifth and final trans-Tasman clash takes place on Friday.

-HockeyAus