Kookaburras Secure Series Victory

Published On: 26 January 2009

Fergus Kavanagh contests for the ball during the Kookaburras series against The Netherlands

The Kookaburras, featuring four WAIS athletes, have secured their maiden series victory under new coach Ric Charlesworth after a win and a draw in their final two Test Matches against the Netherlands in Perth.

WAIS hockey players Kiel Brown, Ian Burcher, Fergus Kavanagh and Ross Meadows all played a part in the series which the Australians won 2-1, with one match a draw.

After playing the first two matches of the series in the South West, the Kookaburras returned to their regular stomping ground at the Perth Hockey Stadium in style with a thumping 7-3 victory in the third Test on Friday night.

Three goals were scored inside the first 15 minutes of the match, with a total of five coming in the first half as local hockey fans were treated to a stunning display of attacking hockey. FIH World Young Player of the Year Eddie Ockenden was in the thick of the action with two first half goals as the home side led 3-2 at half time.

Another five goals came in the second half, with the Kookaburras scoring a further four to the Dutch’s one as they secured a convincing 7-3 win.

The fourth and final match was a much closer affair with Charlesworth’s side coming from one-nil down at the break to draw the match at one-all.

Meadows returned to the net after sitting out the third Test goal-fest and conceded just the one goal, a Ned De Nooijer field goal in the 11th minute. With Ockenden rested from the final match Kavanagh pushed forward from his usual midfield role, with Charlesworth experimenting with the young Geraldton product in the attacking half. Kavanagh couldn’t get on the scoresheet though, with Jamie Dwyer scoring the equaliser from a penalty stroke in the 44th minute.

Happy with a series victory over a high quality opponent, Charlesworth said after the final match that the future bodes well for his young side.

“Overall I think some of our younger players have shown that they can play at this level which is exciting for the future of our team,” he said.

The Kookaburras, including WAIS’s Brown, Burcher and Kavanagh now head to Canberra for a series against Belgium.