Hockeyroos Rally to Defeat New Zealand

The Hockeyroos overturned a half-time deficit to defeat New Zealand 2-1 at the Marrara Hockey Stadium in Darwin.

Goals to Georgina Morgan (38min) and Emily Smith (46min) eclipsed a 21st minute opener from Kiwi Olivia Merry in their International Hockey Open match in Australia’s top end.

WAIS scholarship athlete Kathryn Slattery was part of the Australian set-up and injected the penalty corner for Morgan’s equalizer.

Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens suggested the see-saw nature of matches between the two nations had become a familiar trend.

“I think it was, as is often the case against New Zealand, a really tough match and a game of two halves. I’ve lost count of the amount of times one team has dominated one half, and the other the opposite half,” he said.

“I thought tonight we were pretty average in the first half and New Zealand were exceptional. In the second half we played some really enterprising hockey and created a lot of chances.”

The Australians will next face India on Friday, having defeated Japan 3-1 in their opening fixture.

In Wednesday’s other match, India recorded a 1-1 draw with Japan. Finals will be played on Saturday.