Kookaburras find positives against the Netherlands, Hockeyroos can’t overcome China

Despite neither the Kookaburras or Hockeyroos coming away with wins in the FIH Pro League on Sunday, there is plenty of reason to be excited about the future.

There were plenty of positives for the Aussies.

The Kookaburras may have lost the battle but they won plenty of admirers after again pushing the world no.1 Netherlands to the brink in the FIH Pro League in Sydney.

New coach Mark Hager’s side, which has featured eight debutants this tournament, has laid the platform for an exciting cycle leading into the LA Olympics after the disappointment of their quarter-final dismissal in Paris last year.

Eventual gold medallists the Netherlands beat them six months ago, but the Aussies take a points victory from the Sydney tournament after following their 4-2 win last Wednesday with a 4-4 draw on Sunday, the Dutch side eventually winning the extra point after a flawless showing in the shootout.

Meanwhile, the Hockeyroos could not overcome their China hoodoo, going down 3-1 to the Pro League ladder leaders with the Aussies unable to claw their way back into the match after the visitors made all the early running.

Despite beating their Paris Olympic conquerors in a shootout on Wednesday night, the Aussies were unable to reach the same highs on Sunday, with Penny Squibb’s conversion from a penalty corner their sole joy.

The Sydney tournament has to be viewed as an overall success for both Australian sides though, with the next gen shining through after the joint disappointments of quarter-final dismissals in Paris.

Australia's Alana Kavanagh (L) and China’s Chencheng Liu (R) compete for the ball. Photo: AFP.

The world no.1 Netherlands came back from a 4-1 deficit against the Kookaburras to tie up the match with just under four minutes remaining and while the Aussies somehow held back the orange tide to snatch a point for a draw, they lost the resulting shootout - and the league bonus point that goes with it - to the Olympic champions.

Any idea the Kookaburras’ win over the Netherlands on Wednesday was an aberration was put to bed after the Aussies dominated the second and third quarters with four unanswered goals, their youth brigade again starring.

Jeremy Hayward and Ben White both notched doubles for the Kookaburras as the Aussies looked set to spring another ambush on the Dutch side after Derck de Vilder opened the visitors’ account in the opening period at Sydney Olympic Park.

Netherlands' Joep de Mol gets away from two Aussie opponents. Photo: AFP.

Hayward was outstanding from the top of the circle, his power drag flicks from the Kookaburras’ corners almost unstoppable.

White too found his range, scoring his first international goal when he when picked up the scraps from a corner attempt in the second term and doubling his tally after being on the end of an outstanding pass from Nathan Ephraums before rifling in a cross-cage shot to give the home side a 4-1 lead.

The Dutch would not be denied though, firing back in the final term, seemingly entering the circle at will and earning corner after corner - an incredible 13 in all for the match.

That they converted just three of those was testament to the Kookaburras’ defence and the tenacity of the new blood injected in what is shaping as a new dawn for the side.

Just 11 players had debuted for the Kookaburras in the past three years but Hager has blooded eight newbies in this tournament alone and will head into the next FIH Pro League round.

The Alyson Annan-coached China was all over the Hockeyroos for most of the opening half, especially at the set piece, converting two of their four corners to take a 3-0 lead after Wang Lihang opened the scoring with a spectacular field conversion.

The Hockeyroos clawed their way back into the contest after Penny Squibb converted an Australian corner midway through the second but it was a rare highlight as China dominated the night.

Australia created chances in the final term - including earning a corner and appealing for a stick check in the circle on a Courtney Schonell shot attempt - but could not capitalise and when Lucy Sharman was handed a green card with just three minutes left, leaving her side down a woman for the next two minutes, the contest was effectively over.

Originally published as Kookaburras find positives against the Netherlands, Hockeyroos can’t overcome China