Depleted by illness and injury, the Hockeyroos went down narrowly to South Africa overnight in the second of three Tests in Cape Town, losing 1-0 to a solitary Pietie Coetzee strike.
The experienced star of the South African team converted one of the few chances either side created to seal victory for the hosts.
Despite the result, Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens was pleased with how his team acquitted itself in testing circumstances. “It was really quite a pleasing performance by the players we had available. We’ve got a number of girls injured and Ashleigh Nelson, Casey Eastham and Karri McMahon all ill.
“In the second half in particular we played very well. We had the better of it but a small defensive lapse allowed them to score. Each team created only two of three chances in either half but we’re a team used to creating a lot of chances. South Africa took one of theirs.
“To play how we did with a depleted squad was pleasing. We stuck to our game plan and applied tactics as we wanted to.”
With a bug affecting Nelson, Eastham and McMahon and injuries to others including Jordyn Holzberger, Madonna Blyth, Teneal Attard and Georgie Parker, the Hockeyroos could only list a matchday squad of 16 athletes including two goalkeepers – two players short of the standard 18.
“You can always find a silver lining,” remarked Commens afterwards. “The circumstances meant we could trial players in different positions. For example, today we had a very new midfield unit of Anna Flanagan, Jane Claxton, Mathilda Carmichael and Emily Hurtz. And the likes of Mariah Williams and Brooke Peris, who have not got a lot of international experience, got valuable minutes in the forward line.”
The Hockeyroos’ third and final Test against South Africa is due to commence at 4pm local time on Saturday (1am AEDT Sunday).
– Hockey Australia
