Kookaburras Make Solid Start to World Cup Title Defence

A commanding performance from start to finish has helped the Kookaburras to a second consecutive win, 3-0 over Spain, at the Hockey World Cup in The Hague on Monday.

Coming out of the blocks like a steam train the Kookaburras stormed into the lead as Tim Deavin, a late replacement for the injured Glenn Simpson, casually placed a low tomahawk strike into the bottom corner two minutes in.

Captain Mark Knowles doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after just ten minutes but could only watch as a second penalty stroke rebounded back off the crossbar and out in the 21st minute.

Shortly before half time, Kieran Govers made it 3-0 with a powerful low drag flick from a penalty corner.

Despite the lack of goals in the second period and an improvement from Spain, the Kookaburras always looked in total control as they moved on to six points at the top of Pool A. Their next match comes against European silver medallists Belgium on Thursday.

National Coach Ric Charlesworth said after the match, “I think we played as well as well as we’ve played this year in the first half. I want us to play that way all the time. The second half was pretty disappointing. We took our foot off the pedal. I don’t ever want to do that, so that was disappointing.”

Referring to upcoming opponents Belgium, Charlesworth added, “They’re a very good team. It’ll be a very tough game. And a very important one for us.”

WAIS athletes Fergus Kavanagh and Aran Zalewski featured in the match, whilst fellow WAIS athlete Tyler Lovell is in the Australian World Cup squad.

Earlier:

The Kookaburras’ defence of their 2010 World Cup title began with a 4-0 victory over Malaysia in the tournament’s opening game in The Hague on Saturday.

Prolific forward Glenn Turner’s raceaway goal in the 25th minute set the Kookaburras on their way ahead of a commanding second half performance where goals in quick succession from Eddie Ockenden, Jamie Dwyer and Turner again put them in the driving seat.

Three-time World Cup winning coach Ric Charlesworth declared he was happy with his side’s opening performance. He said, “The first game is always difficult. I think [in] the first game of the tournament everyone is a bit anxious and things are just being sorted out but I’m pleased with the result. I think the quality of our field play was pretty good. I was happy with the speed of the ball and the movements of the players. We didn’t finish well enough and I think that’s obvious, we can improve on that. And the aim, of course, is to play better as the tournament goes on.

“In the first or second minute one of our players saved a goal from one of our players on the goal line and if that had gone in it may have been different. The game may have opened up earlier. But as it was we had to fight very hard for the second goal, and then the third and fourth.

“We took a long time to score. We were our own worst enemy. We made a bunch of chances in the first half and didn’t finish. It was attritional for a long time but in the end I’m happy with the win. We get the game out of the way, we are into the tournament. Malaysia can be a difficult team, they can break on the counter and you have to be vigilant.”

The Kookaburras were awarded six penalty corners but unusually failed to capitalise from any of them. Charlesworth added, “We were weren’t so good [at penalty corners] today. The goalkeeper made some good saves and the other ones we didn’t finish. So that’s always a worry but they’ve been good until now so I’m happy with where we’re at.”

Turner’s opening goal, a cool flick on the breakaway after Fergus Kavanagh’s pinpoint pass, was no less than the Kookaburras deserved. Simon Orchard had already blocked teammate Kieran Govers’ goal-bound shot in the second minute, Jake Whetton had narrowly failed to divert Jamie Dwyer’s deflection on target and Govers’ foot connected before his stick while through behind the goalkeeper.

Tasmanian Ockenden doubled he Kookaburras’ advantage with a low tomahawk strike into the bottom corner after cutting into the circle from the right hand side. Two minutes later Jamie Dwyer put the result beyond doubt and Turner promptly made it 4-0 with a back post diversion of Chris Ciriello’s ball into the circle.

-HockeyAustralia