Hayward proves he’s among world’s best as Kookaburras complete series sweep of India
Drag-flicking maestro Jeremy Hayward underlined why he is the most devastating penalty corner specialist in the world as the Kookaburras completed a 5-0 series sweep against India.
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Drag-flicking maestro Jeremy Hayward underlined why he is the most devastating penalty corner specialists in the world as the Kookaburras came from behind to complete a 5-0 series sweep and extend a decade of dominance on home soil against India.
The Aussies crawled out of the blocks, perhaps a little complacency creeping in given their dominance throughout the Perth International Festival of Hockey, but roared back to claim a 3-2 win, powered by an end-to-end performance from best-afield Aran Zalewski and two goals in a minute in the third quarter.
India, which hasn’t won a series in Australia since 2014, heads home with little to show for its visit to Perth, other than a 17-7 goal difference and a look at what it will take for them to be even close to competing for a medal in Paris.
Hayward paid tribute to his squad and the travelling Indians.
“It’s great to play on home soil in an Olympic year,” Hayward said.
“Great job to our boys, it was a really good series and we’re looking forward to the support in Paris.
“Cheers to the Indian team, they draw a crowd wherever they go.”
In game five on Saturday night, the Men In Blue took the ascendancy in just the fourth minute through their superstar Harmanpreet Singh from his usual vantage point — the battery.
The Kookas’ early lethargy prompted a good old fashioned spray from coach Colin Batch at quarter time — and it worked.
Australia came out a different team in the second quarter, piling on the pressure and finding reward in the fifth minute of the quarter when series-leading scorer Hayward stepped up to launch an unstoppable penalty corner missile — his seventh in five games — that evened things up.
It probably should have been 4-1 at halftime but a trio of basic skill errors let three golden opportunities go begging.
Jarmanpreet Singh had a moment of colour-blindedness under pressure from player of the match Nathan Ephraums when he teed up opponent Tim Brand in a brain fade that should have been punished. But Brand, as if surprised by the Indian’s mistake, bumbled through the trap and then miss-hit the strike, despite having enough time to make himself a cuppa.
A moment later, Jack Welch found himself open it the back post, but that went begging, then speed demon Lachlan Sharp would have been filthy when his nifty work to up-end his defender gave him a free swing at it — that went across the face.
Those chances might have been spurned but it was a sign of things to come.
The Kookaburras came out breathing fire in the third, firing in two goals in a minute to bust the game open.
The lead came through Novocastrian Ky Willot, who hared through the attacking circle at the perfect moment to turn in Craig Marais’ enticing pass, after Hayward cutback from the baseline.
The incredible vision of 400-game legend Eddie Ockenden came to the fore on the very next play with as he picked out Brand just above the penalty spot. Again, Brand had an eon, but this time, he made no mistake, flicking it past the on-rushing Krishan Pathak to double the advantage.
Indian junior prodigy Boby Singh Dhami tried to spark some late fireworks with a goal in his debut appearance in what looms as a long career for the Men In Blue and India pulled the goalkeeper with three minutes to go in a bid to find an equaliser.
GAME 4: Deja vu as Kookaburras come from behind again
It is a sense of Deja Vu for India as for the fourth consecutive time they have opened the scoring before the Kookaburras have come from behind to win at Curtin University on Friday night.
In Tom Wickham’s 100th test for Australia, the Kookaburras took the fourth test against India 3-1.
They are just one win away from clean sweeping India in the five test series.
Kookaburras Eddie Ockenden said it was a hard fought win against a strong Indian outfit.
“It was a really tough game, we had to battle through some tough periods,” Ockenden said.
“They seemed like they had a fair few chances tonight compared to the other night as well.
“They were pretty sharp (tonight).
Fans had to wait almost 45 minutes for the game to start thanks to a lightning storm in Perth delaying the game.
But the delay was worth it from the opening minute as India looked to pressure the Kookaburras net early.
The Indian skipper opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a penetrating flick to the bottom right hand corner, smashing into the net.
In almost true Kookaburras style, Australia jumped on the attack looking to reply quickly but to no prevail as the Indian defence held up strong to take a 1-0 lead into quarter time.
It would be Jeremy Hayward to score his first goal of the night and his fifth for the series to draw the score level again with a powerful slap from a penalty corner early in the second quarter.
Hayward took it on himself again in the third quarter scoring the Kookaburras second goal to take the lead thanks to another penalty corner.
India continued to show fight throughout the match but a goal midway through the fourth and final quarter by Australia’s Jack Welch put the final nail in the coffin.
Kookaburras Tim Brand was on the end of two powerful shots striking him in the ribs, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from winning Player of the Match in game four.
GAME 3: HAYWARD DIGS AUSSIES OUT OF TROUBLE
A Jeremy Hayward double has helped Australia claim the series win in the third game against India at Curtin University.
Hayward scored the equaliser in the third quarter before scoring his and the Kookaburras second early in the fourth quarter as Australia ran out 2-1 winners.
The match winner came from the Kookaburras 11th corner penalty, with Hayward smashing into the top left hand corner of the net after India’s goalkeepers P.R. Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak handled everything Australia threw at them in the first two and half quarters.
Hayward said the mindset is still to come out as if they are playing the first game.
“They came at us India, they have learnt a few things from the first two games and really challenged us tonight,” Hayward said.
“They are a fast, energetic team without the ball and with the ball even more so.
“They are skillful and dangerous, a very good team India.
“Mindset wise, we want to come out and win every single game.”
India pulled Sreejesh with just under three minutes to go, adding an extra attacker to try and level the score but the Kookaburras controlled the game and ran down the clock to take the win.
With two games to go in the five-test series, Hayward becomes the leading scorer with four goals.
You don't save those ones 🙅
— Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) April 10, 2024
Jerry with his second goal of the night to give us the lead against India. pic.twitter.com/ep64Z7pg3M
India’s defence held up brilliantly in the opening term as Australia piled on six attempts from penalty corners.
Goalkeeper Sreejesh came up big midway through the quarter, stopping three goal attempts in the space of 90 seconds.
The game lifted a notch in the second quarter as the Kookaburras continued their run and possession dominance but India came up strong again in defence.
This time it was Indian goalkeeper Krishan Pathak who managed to stop the onslaught from the Australians.
A late penalty against the Australian’s cost them the first goal of the game with two minutes to go in the second quarter.
Just like the first half, the Kookaburras threw everything they could at India but it was the men in blue who broke the shackles first, thanks to Jugraj Singh who scored off a penalty corner late in the third quarter.
But the lead didn’t last long with Kookaburra Jeremy Hayward awarded a penalty shot, levelling the score at 1-1 with just under two minutes remaining.
Sreejesh was named player of the match.
They will meet again in game four of the series on April 12.
KOOKABURRAS FIGHT BACK IN PERTH FURNACE
The Kookaburras have come from behind for a second consecutive win against India in a two point sweep of game two in the Perth International Hockey Festival, trumping India 4-2.
In a scorching 38 degrees at Perth’s Curtin University, the Kookaburras started where they left off yesterday, with Jeremy Hayward finding a goal early, leaving India’s Krishan Pathak shell-shocked in defence.
Both squads had a shake up from night one, and the Aussies were taking a little more time to find their groove in attack, with a couple of missed opportunities from penalty corners.
Jugraj Singh wasn’t wasting any time and got one back straight away for India, a welcome change from their first and only score coming in the fourth quarter on day one, leaving it one all at quarter time.
Australia flooded the circle, outnumbering India as they upped the pressure, but their opposition managed repeated turn overs leaving the Kookaburras wanting.
The game slowed in momentum but in the final minute, Harmanpreet Singh slotted a clean score to head into the main break with a 2-1 lead.
The Aussies needed to dig deep, and Hayward came out firing, he slammed an equaliser into the back of the net for a second goal for himself and the Kookaburras, from the exact spot as his first, to the frustration of India.
The Aussies continued to put the pressure on but couldn’t find an opening until Matt Dawson, on his 200th Kookaburras appearance, threaded the needle for Jacob Anderson to convert their third goal.
Nathan Ephraums shocked the field assisted by Jacob Whetten, who set up a quick shot for him, flinging it straight through the air to put them up 4-2 at the final break.
The final quarter was an arm wrestle of sorts, the intense heat appearing to wear heavy on the players. India worked hard defensively, managing to limit the Aussies I attack and force turnovers.
India’s ball movement meant the Kookaburras scrambled to keep their defence strong but in the end India couldn’t capitalise and it was another win for the Aussies.
Matt Dawson spoke fondly of his 200t Kookaburras cap post game.
“I think the third quarter showed our dominance,” Dawson said.
“It’s good to win close games, they’re the number four team for a reason and we still have three more games to go against them.
“ My sisters and my parents made it here for my debut also against India, now my family is here from the East Coast and my wife, it’s full circle.”
Originally published as Hayward proves he’s among world’s best as Kookaburras complete series sweep of India
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