Kookaburras Close Out Test Series with 1-1 Draw

The Kookaburras and New Zealand Black Sticks played out a hotly contested 1-1 draw in the second and final match of their Easter Test series in Perth on Saturday evening.

Glenn Turner’s close range finish late in the first half earned the Kookaburras a deserved equaliser after they had fallen behind to Kiwi Kane Russell’s deflected early penalty corner.

Australia’s last official Test before coach Ric Charlesworth selects his squad for the World Cup, was a far tighter affair than Thursday’s 4-1 Kookaburras victory, with New Zealand much better in possession and able to exert greater pressure on the Australian ball carriers when in defence.

National coach Charlesworth said afterwards, “It was a good, tough, tight match. We were a little disjointed but we had made a number of changes to the squad for tonight’s game. I’m never happy when we don’t win but it was a tough game and we found out a bit more about some people.”

The World Cup winning coach added that he believed New Zealand’s goal could have been disallowed, citing the height of Russell’s shot before its deflection off an Australian defender.

Despite a strong start, the Kookaburras found themselves behind after just eight minutes when Kane Russell struck from New Zealand’s second penalty corner. Australia’s best chance to level fell to Queenslander Matt Gohdes in the 22nd minute but his shot flew high over the bar after good work along the baseline by Jason Wilson.

Showing the sort of killer instinct that has seen them rise to the top of the world rankings, the Kookaburras took full advantage when New Zealand were temporarily reduced to ten men shortly before half time. With Kiwi Andy Hayward off the pitch, Eddie Ockenden’s bravery and persistence in front of goal set up the chance for Turner to level the score. The Goulburn man needed no second invitation, pouncing to capitalise and knock the ball home for 1-1. It was Turner’s 76th goal for the Kookaburras in 103 appearances.

A blistering end-to-end second half saw both sides enjoy good opportunities to score, finding the goalkeepers in fine form. Kookaburras’ goalkeepers Tyler Lovell and George Bazeley were both called upon to make telling interventions while Liam De Young and WAIS athlete Trent Mitton each had shots at the other end but could not breach Devon Manchester’s goal.

Speaking afterwards, De Young said, “As we expected after Thursday’s match they were quicker, keener and tougher on the ball. We both missed chances so maybe a draw was a fair result.”

The Kookaburras will now undertake their final week of training and two inter-squad matches before Ric Charlesworth names the squad he hopes will successfully defend its 2010 World Cup title in The Hague.

WAIS athletes Mitton, Fergus Kavanagh, Tyler Lovell and Aran Zalewski all played for the Kookaburras.

Earlier:

Double strikes from Simon Orchard and Jake Whetton earned the Kookaburras a resounding 4-1 win over rivals the New Zealand Black Sticks in Perth on Thursday night.

A late brace from Whetton was no less than he or the Kookaburras deserved after first half goals from New South Wales’ Orchard, whose terrific solo effort just before half time gave the Kookaburras valuable breathing space at 2-0. Whetton’s first was a superb tomahawk strike from the narrowest of angles after rounding the Kiwi goalkeeper Hamish McGregor while his second was a simple finish at the back post after excellent set-up play by Russell Ford on his 150th appearance.

Kookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth was pleased with the result but felt his side might have been further ahead had they capitalised on more of their chances. Speaking afterwards, he said, “It was a tough encounter and a pretty competitive one. New Zealand are on their way to the Champions Challenge in Malaysia and have what I think is their strongest team here. There was a spell at the start of the second half when we were quite dominant but we didn’t put them away.”

Despite a dominant opening spell, the Kookaburras came close to falling behind early on when goalkeeper Andrew Charter had to look smart to save in front of his goalmouth. Having survived the scare, the Kookaburras’ attacking strength came to the fore minutes later as Rob Hammond found Simon Orchard on the cut-back and Orchard fired home through the legs of the goalkeeper Devon Manchester.

The Kookaburras’ advantage was doubled on the stroke of half time through Orchard’s second as he latched on to Whetton’s redirection of Joel Carroll’s long pass. Rounding the goalkeeper, the 27 year old from Maitland still had plenty to do as he withstood last ditch challenges to flick the ball home.

Trent Mitton, Whetton, Orchard and Hammond all had opportunities to extend the Australian lead early in the second half but the visitors halved the deficit with just under 20 minutes remaining. Experienced Black Sticks man Shea McAleese finished off a flowing passing move to pull the score back to 2-1.

With ten minutes remaining and New Zealand pushing for an equaliser a lightning quick Kookaburras break was finished emphatically by Queenslander Whetton to put the result beyond doubt. Three minutes later Whetton had his second – the Kookaburras’ fourth – after Russell Ford’s pass across goal found him with pinpoint accuracy leaving Whetton with a simple finish for his 23rd international goal.

WAIS athletes Trent Mitton, Kiel Brown, Tyler Lovell and Aran Zalewski played in the match.

-HockeyAustralia