Oceania Cup 2023: News and results from the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras Olympic qualifiers v New Zealand Black Sticks
The equation was easy — win, and the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras would be on the plane to Paris. New Zealand had other ideas. Can the Aussies bounce back?
It was a far cry from the euphoria of night one of the best-of-three tournament for both the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos, the results levelling the respective series at 1-1, ahead of Sunday’s decider.
NOT ALL ROSIE, BUT HOCKEYROOS A STEP CLOSER TO PARIS
Late heroics from star striker Rosie Malone has ensured the Hockeyroos remain in the box seat for direct Olympic qualification thanks to a 1-1 draw with the Black Sticks in Whangarei.
It’s a result that still has the Hockeyroos bags packed for Paris, provided they don’t lose by three or more goals in Sunday’s Oceania Cup decider, although captain Grace Stewart would have preferred a dead rubber.
“(We would have) liked to end the series today (Saturday), but that draw was important for us going into (Sunday),” Stewart said.
“We pride ourselves on playing the full 60 minutes and grinding it out and that showed.
“We would have liked another one there, but we’ll take (the draw).
“We want it (Olympic qualification) just as much as they do, but we’re trying to take it game by game, not think about the outcome at the moment and just put a good performance out (on Sunday).”
After a dour first half that delivered few highlights, the Black Sticks broke through midway through the third quarter to take a deserved advantage.
It was the play of the game as they connected through a string of passes from defence to offence, finding prime mover Olivia Shannon on the edge of the attacking circle. She turned the ball in to find a pair of Black Sticks unmarked in front of a hapless Jocelyn Bartram, Hannah Cotter winning the raffle to put it in the goal.
In a performance that bore zero resemblance to the Hockeyroos’ series-opening stunner, it was difficult to find a clear winner across the field as the Black Sticks dominated the majority of the proceedings.
That was until Malone, quiet by her standards, bobbed up with a tick under nine minutes to go in the game to level it up. Midfield muscle Jane Claxton seared a ball to Brooke Peris whose crafty touch found fellow forward Malone, whose turn-and-strike deflected off a defender’s stick and over Grace O’Hanlon into the goal.
Steph Kershaw was the stand out for Australia, not just for the bright golden long sleeves hanging out of her Hockeyroos Indigenous kit, but for her flair and effort on both ends.
The Hockeyroos lead NZ by the three goals they produced on Thursday night and a draw, or even a loss by less than three, will do Sunday.
SHOCK UPSET AS KOOKAS DUMPED BY KIWIS IN SEVEN-YEAR FIRST
The Kookaburras will have to win a do-or-die third Test to secure direct Olympic qualification after New Zealand pulled off a massive upset in their first win over Australia in 32 games.
The Aussies had not lost to the Black Sticks since the 2016 Trans Tasman Cup but, with the stakes so high, they were jumped by the Black Sticks in game two of the Oceania Cup.
After opening the tournament on Thursday night with a goal in the first 26 seconds of the game, the Aussies looked lethargic on Saturday, their skill and pressure down from the get-go.
The energised Black Sticks took full advantage, firing in three goals in the first 13 minutes in a decisive opening salvo that led to a 4-2 win.
Jake Whetton, who has two goals in two games in NZ, said the Kookaburras failed to cope with the Black Sticks’ increased intensity.
“We knew that NZ were going to have a reaction from the first game and they came out quite strong and we just weren’t able to match their speed at the start of the game and they hit us a few times,” Whetton said.
“It’s quite hard to come back from three (down) but it’s a three match series and all to play for on Sunday.
“We know when we play our best hockey it’s really difficult for any team to play against us and we’ll go back to the drawing board and have a good chat tonight (Saturday) and come out firing Sunday.”
Kiwi goal machine Sam Lane started the rot in the fifth minute with a wonderful piece of control that led to a devastating tomahawk from an acute angle, causing a thundercrack as it speared past Aussie goalkeeper Johan Durst into the backboard.
Two minutes later, Durst was found wanting when he botched his effort to save Kane Russell’s penalty corner drag flick and it ricocheted into the net.
Ill-discipline from Kookaburras’ games record-holder Eddie Ockenden gifted the Black Sticks a penalty corner when he trod on the ball as he jogged away after the umpire’s whistle had blown.
Russell’s initial try deflected off an Aussie runner but landed in the path of Black Sticks’ captain Nic Wood who creamed his second effort into the opposite corner.
The shell-shocked Kookaburras settled after the first break and found their opener thanks to an incisive run from Tom Craig who bobbled one past the NZ defence into the path of Jake Whetton allowing him to smash it past Kiwi keeper Leon Hayward.
That allowed the Kookaburras to momentarily take control and it looked like it was only a matter of time before the comeback would be on.
But any hopes were dashed when Charlie Morrison dished to Sean Findlay whose speculative, almost innocuous, low lift toward goal got lost in a sea of green and gold and snuck in at the far post to complete a bit of a dirty day for Durst.
The Aussies did find another in the third, producing some entertaining by-play between opposing brothers Leon and Jeremy Hayward.
Leon, in a match-winning performance guarding the Kiwi goals, initially saved brother Jeremy’s penalty corner drag flick, but a repeat set play ended with the ball in the back of the net, followed by a bit of lip from Kookaburra Jeremy to his sibling.
Leon might have lost that battle, but he won the war as his side kept its Olympic qualification hopes alive.
Game three is Sunday in Whangarei, New Zealand.
MEN, GAME 1: KOOKAS’ EUPHORIA AFTER FIRST-MINUTE STRIKE
The Kookaburras have scored one of the fastest goals in international history on their way to a hard-fought 3-1 win over New Zealand in their opening Oceania Cup clash.
The Aussies set the scene with a remarkable start to the game, pilfering the opening pushback from the Black Sticks and firing in the first goal after just 26 seconds.
Tough-as-nails Daniel Beale put through 150-game milestone man Flynn Ogilvie in midfield, who rewarded a perfectly-timed run to the back post by Jake Whetton with a precision pass that gave him the easiest of knock ins.
It was a moment that turbocharged the Kookaburras, captain Aran Zalewski said.
“Gee, it’s a blur for me,” Zalewski said of Whetton’s goal.
“When you knock one in in the first 30 seconds it’s quite nice and it’s quite euphoric because obviously there’s quite a bit of adrenaline running.
“So we all charged over to Whetty in the corner and celebrated nicely.”
It only took 30 seconds for the @Kookaburras to score! 🤯
— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 10, 2023
Watch the opening match of the Oceania Cup LIVE on @7plus 👠https://t.co/a1fbkmoMrcpic.twitter.com/Zyp0thyGs7
Seven minutes later, one became two for the Kookas when rocket man Blake Govers launched a flat drag that left scorch marks on the Whangerei turf and cannoned into the left corner.
The shell-shocked Black Sticks had hardly touched the pill and the ruthless Aussies might have ground them into the dust after such a devastating start.
But, to their credit, the Kiwis found their feet and worked themselves back into the contest, grabbing one back in the last minute of the first quarter.
A fluffed trap off a penalty corner proved fortuitous when the misdirection allowed captain Nic Woods to hit up goal machine Sam Lane. His drag was partially saved by Aussie keeper Johan Durst, but eventually bobbled over the line off the custodian.
Game back on.
The promise of a goal-fest gave way to the reality of a dour struggle that was controlled by the Kookaburras — 38 circle entries to 20 — without creating any rolled gold chances that would lead to the ultimate reward.
The speed, connection and precision of the Kookaburras was equally matched by the resilience, structure and determination of the Black Sticks to keep the green and gold at bay.
That was until a late-game baseline juggling run from young gun Ky Willot, who cut it back to Ogilvie in the goalmouth and he found the busy Tom Craig who knocked it over the line for the sealer.
“Tonight was a pretty tight match,” Zalewski said.
“It was 2-1 most of the game and the Kiwis had a few chances to level it.
“We’re happy to get the result.
“There’s some really positive signs from our group today and we hope to build on that through the rest of the weekend.”
The Kookaburras face the Black Sticks in game two Saturday.
WOMEN, GAME 1: FOUR MINUTES OF MAGIC AS HOCKEYROOS STUN BLACK STICKS
The Hockeyroos are one win away from booking their ticket to Paris after a remarkable purple patch in game one of their Oceania Cup series against New Zealand.
Three Aussie goals within four minutes either side of halftime put paid to any hopes the Black Sticks had of an upset as the Hockeyroos produced an absolute domination in the 3-0 First Test win that has them on the verge of Olympic qualification.
The Kiwis tried their best to possess the ball but could not find a way through the staunch Hockeyroos’ defence, penetrating the attacking circle just five times across the 60 minutes.
Every time New Zealand turned it over, the likes of Kaitlin Nobbs, Hattie Shand and company immediately turned defence into offence, cutting the Black Sticks to shreds in transition, producing a remarkable 29 circle penetrations, allowing for nine shots on goal.
Hockeyroos captain Jane Claxton was pleased with the win, but was already looking toward the second Test on Saturday.
“With the rivalry between us, (a win over NZ) always makes it sweeter but there are two games to go and we know we have a grind ahead of us,” Claxton said.
“The Black Sticks are relentless in defence and do not let you go past them easily.
“Those three goals we scored, we had to earn them so we’ll be looking at how we can find gaps in their defence come the weekend.”
Veteran gun Brooke Peris produced the cheeky highlight of the match when she launched a perfectly-timed run in behind the Kiwi defence, latched onto a perfectly-weighted through ball from halfback Sophie Taylor and nonchalantly rolled it past onrushing goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon.
The @Hockeyroos suddenly have a three-goal lead! 🤩
— 7Sport (@7Sport) August 10, 2023
Watch the Oceania Cup LIVE on @7plus 👠https://t.co/a1fbkmoMrcpic.twitter.com/d4E0RaV6Ty
The 30-year-old’s finish was a dagger in the heart of the Kiwis that came just moments after strike queen Rosie Malone buttered up Claire Colwill’s saved penalty corner effort and flicked it into the back of the net.
Colwill, who continues to emerge as the Aussies’ most devastating set play weapon, helped herself to the game’s opening goal breaking the deadlock in the last minute of the half after the staunch Black Sticks had held fast in the face of an Aussie onslaught.
The only teen in the Hockeyroos’ squad launched a rocket that pinged into the roof of the net off a Kiwi defender. What followed was a long pause after a strange challenge from the Kiwis to a goal that looked as straightforward as any you will see.
It was hard to find a winner for the Black Sticks but captain Olivia Merry, the most experienced player on either team with 273 international caps, said her side would look to put the result behind it.
“We’ve still got two games and it’s a long time, we’re not down and out, we want to come out firing from the get-go on Saturday,” Merry said.
The Hockeyroos can seal a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games with a win on Saturday, while the Black Sticks would need to reverse their fortunes and win both remaining Tests to avoid taking the hard road through a January qualifying tournament.
Originally published as Oceania Cup 2023: News and results from the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras Olympic qualifiers v New Zealand Black Sticks
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