Kookaburras Sweep Belgians in Two Test Series
The Kookaburras completed what coach Ric Charlesworth called their “refuelling stop” in Belgium overnight with a 5-1 victory over the host nation in the second of two test matches.
Following on from their 8-2 win on Wednesday night, the Australians mixed and matched through the lines, converting three corners and adding two field goals.
The result enables them to move onto the rather sterner challenge ahead in Germany next week with renewed confidence.
“It was a tough game but it was a good refuelling stop to go on to Germany,” said Charlesworth. “We were solid and our corners were pleasing but we weren’t emphatic.”
Mark Knowles opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a field goal, Australia’s only reward during a tight first half.
However two goals just after the interval put the Kookaburras in the driving seat, Russell Ford following up from a corner for the first and Kieran Govers converting Australia’s fourth penalty corner for the second.
Des Abbott made it 4-0 from open play in the 50th minute before Belgium’s corner master Tom Boon grabbed a consolation for an under-strength home side two minutes later. A Chris Ciriello corner wrapped up the result for the Kookaburras on the hour.
The Australians have not had an easy time over the last three weeks, losing Graeme Begbie and Rob Hammond to injury and yesterday assistant coach Graham Reid flew home following the death of his father.
For the remaining players and staff, selection pressures are rising with the Olympics only seven weeks away.
“Selection is hard but we just have to deal with it, every other team is affected by it as well. Germany, Great Britain are dealing with it too, not just us,” Charlesworth said.
“Some teams may have decided already but I’m not sure that would be healthy, so I’d prefer to be in this situation where we are testing things out, for example, we have used our entire corner hierarchy.
“Of course it means that the players can wax and wane but the reality is that it is going to be that way over the next couple of months.”
The Kookaburras now head over the border to Mannheim for two days of training and then two tests against Germany next week.
They will be hoping for revenge after successive defeats to the World’s No 2 nation at the Olympic Test Event in London.
– Hockey Australia