HOCKEY: The Kookaburras advanced into the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with a game in hand courtesy of a gritty 3-1 victory over trans-Tasman rivals, the New Zealand Black Sticks.
Three goals in a clinical nine minute period of the second quarter was enough to earn victory as Dylan Wotherspoon, Jamie Dwyer and Jeremy Hayward struck. Kiwi Andy Hayward pulled one back from the penalty spot shortly after half time but the world champions maintained the two goal deficit.
Speaking after the match, Kookaburras Assistant Coach Paul Gaudoin said, “It was a typical Australia-New Zealand match. It was tough, an absolute grind. They know how we play, we know how they play.
“We lacked the intensity of the day before. It’s difficult to get up for back-to-back matches but it was the same for New Zealand. Overall, we’re pleased we managed to grind out a result.”
Western Australian Aran Zalewski celebrated his 50th appearance for Australia in the match, which burst into action two minutes into the second quarter when birthday boy Dylan Wotherspoon, 22, scored to give the Kookaburras the lead.
Seven minutes later Jamie Dwyer continued his incredible run of form, scoring for the fourth consecutive match to take his tally for the tournament to seven, doubling Australia’s advantage.
And defender Jeremy Hayward, who made his international debut at the same tournament a year ago, made it 3-0 with a powerful penalty corner conversion, his first goal of the tournament.
The Black Sticks were handed an opportunity to get back into the match two minutes after half time when a penalty corner hit an Australian defender on the line. Kiwi Andy Hayward slotted home the resulting penalty stroke but it was to be their only goal.
The result qualifies the Kookaburras for Sunday’s final with a round-robin match against India on Saturday still to come. New Zealand remain the favourites to meet them in the final but could still lose out to Korea should the Koreans beat Malaysia and then beat the Kiwis on Saturday.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Gaudoin said Australia would not think about Sunday’s final ahead of their clash with India on Saturday.
He commented, “It’s a classic case of not looking beyond the next game. India are playing reasonably well. The probably haven’t had the results they’ve deserved here so far.”
Under the stewardship of new coach, Dutchman Paul van Ass, the Indians enjoyed their first win of the tournament on Thursday, beating Canada 5-3 having previously drawn with Korea on the opening day. Kookaburras captain, Mark Knowles, will make his 250th appearance for Australia in Saturday’s match.
The Kookaburras’ fifth match of the Sultan Azlan Shah will be against India on Saturday at 6:10pm AEST / 4:10pm AWST. The match will be shown on live on Eurosport (Foxtel Ch 511).
Kookaburras squad v New Zealand
Nick Budgeon (Hobart, TAS) 32/12
Matthew Dawson (Central Coast, NSW) 14/0
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 31/11
Leon Hayward (GK) (Darwin, NT) 4/0
Mark Knowles (C) (Rockhampton, QLD) 249/21
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 66/20
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 235/60
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) 82/34
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 48/3
Dylan Wotherspoon (Murwillumbah, QLD) 8/3
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 50/4
Used Substitute
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 48/8
Tristan Clemons (GK) (Ferndale, WA) 14/0
Tim Cross (Eaglemont, VIC) 4/1
Jamie Dwyer (Rockhampton, QLD) 325/213
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) 114/32
Glenn Simpson (Melbourne, VIC) 122/22
Did Not Play
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 114/79
Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Standings
1. Australia (12 points, 4 games)
2. New Zealand (9 points, 4 games)
3. Korea (4 points, 3 games)
4. India (4 points, 4 games)
5. Malaysia (3 points, 3 games)
6. Canada (0 points, 4 games)
Kookaburras’ Sultan Azlan Shah remaining fixtures
Saturday 11 April – Kookaburras v India– 6:10pm AEST
Sunday 12 April – Final 10:40pm AEST / Bronze 8:10pm AEST / 5th-6th 5:40pm AEST
Sultan Azlan Shah competing teams
Australia (World ranking #1)
Canada (#15)
Korea (#8)
India (#9)
Malaysia (#12)
New Zealand (#7)
HOCKEY AUSTRALIA