Kookaburras Suffer Test Defeat Against Germany

Germany clipped the Kookaburras’ wings for the second time in London overnight, winning 5-2 in the final of the Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament.

Having lost to the world number two in the round robin stage of this test event, Australia were hoping for revenge in the match that mattered, but the Germans played with a mix of ruthlessness and finesse to give the World Champions much food for thought as the Olympics loom.

“We had double their goal shots but couldn’t put them away,” said assistant coach Graham Reid.

“We played well in the first half but didn’t put the ball in the net and looking at the other end, you won’t win many games if you let five goals get past you.”

Wearing black arm bands in tribute to West Australian Lizzie Watkins, who died in a freak accident during a hockey match at the weekend, Australia started as though they meant business.

Within a minute they had earned a penalty corner, which Luke Doerner fired wide but with only five minutes on the clock they conceded a penalty stroke, which was well saved by Nathan Burgers.

Before 10 minutes had gone, Russell Ford, Tim Deavin, Matt Gohdes and Liam de Young all had chances but it seemed Simon Orchard had finally put the Kookaburras ahead with a penalty stroke only for the Germans to demand a video referral, which was upheld.

Orchard, it was deemed had dragged the stroke, and not flicked it.

It’s likely the Germans had watched Orchard’s identical stroke against Great Britain,who did not appeal, for it was shown repeatedly on the television. “I’m sure it was a premeditated referral,” said Reid, “and now it’s been clarified we can set about adjusting our techniques for the future.”

The Kookaburras did eventually take the lead when Chris Ciriello fired home a corner at the 18 minute mark but Germany had started to get the measure of the Australian press and broke through with an equaliser from Tobias Matania which beat Burgers at the far post.

Just before half-time came a morale-sapping second, Florian Fuchs driving along the Australian back line before creating a simple tap-in for Thilo Stralkowski, and just after half-time came the killer third when a slick penalty corner move was slipped to Fuchs.

All that excitement left Australia chasing the game and there was a moment when it seemed a recovery was on, Gohdes converting their second penalty stroke to make it 3-2.

However, as the Kookaburras attacked they were caught on the break, Mathias Witthaus finishing off a sweeping three-man move that might have come out of the Australian playbook.

With two minutes left Christopher Zeller rounded off a memorable German performance with a penalty stroke that gives coach Ric Charlesworth and his team much scope for reflection.

“It was frustrating but this tournament has been a good wake-up call,” admitted Reid. “This is the big league, playing teams like Germany and Great Britain. The other main aim has been to look at selection options and this event has certainly shed a bit more light on that.”

The Kookaburras leave London today and will play test matches against Belgium and Germany this week.

– Hockey Australia