HOCKEY: Three goals in nine minutes either side of quarter time set the foundation for a dominant 4-0 Hockeyroos win over outsiders Canada at the Hawke’s Bay Cup in Hastings.
Penalty corner strikes from defenders Georgie Morgan and Jodie Kenny inside the opening period were supplemented by a double from 18 year-old Grace Stewart, the first of which came shortly after the restart, her second coming late in the contest.
As in their opening two matches against Japan and Korea, the Australian women controlled play throughout, creating numerous opportunities but failing to convert many of the best chances.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Adam Commens admitted that the number of opportunities passed up by his side was frustrating.
He said, “It’s a little bit frustrating when you have the amount of possession and chances we had and you don’t score more. I know our players are better than what they’ve shown and I’m just imploring them to start to bring into practice in these games the sorts of things we’ve been training. I thought today we could have done that much better.
“Certainly, we see a lot better from our players on the training pitch. We just want to see those skills in the game."
Commens wasn’t wholly unsatisfied, however, noting the team’s general play has been good and that the Hawke’s Bay Cup is a part of a larger plan to achieve success at Rio 2016.
He added, “We’re a team that has the ability to score a lot of goals. I think the way that we’re playing throughout the pitch is positive. We’re creating those chances. We just need to tidy up the end zone.
“On goal difference we finish second in our pool but that doesn’t really matter. We’re about trying to improve and peak at the right time in Rio and this tournament is part of that.
"In an Olympic year that selection pressure is there and sometimes that pressure can contribute but the pressure’s going to be that much more at the Olympic Games.”
A strong start was rewarded with Morgan’s goal from the game’s first penalty corner midway through the opening quarter, and the advantage was doubled on the stroke of quarter time; Jodie Kenny’s powerful penalty corner drag flick found the back of the net off the gloves of the Canadian goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Williams.
Shortly after the first break it was 3-0. Georgie Parker did well to win possession deep in Canadian territory and the South Australian picked out Grace Stewart in the middle of the circle. The unmarked New South Wales youngster remained composed to slot the ball beyond the advancing Williams for her second goal of the tournament.
Such was the Australian dominance that Hockeyroos’ goalkeeper Ashlee Wells was largely a spectator, called into action for the only time in the 50th minute, comfortably dismissing a shot on goal.
Late in the game Stewart netted her second goal, knocking home from close range after a cross from the left.
The Hockeyroos finish second in Pool A, behind Japan as a result of having scored fewer goals than the Japanese. Australia’s women will now face the third place team in Pool B, which completes later today, in Thursday’s quarter final. That could still be any one of three teams – China, Ireland or India.
Results & Fixtures, today
Korea 1-3 Japan
Australia 4-0 Canada
China v India
New Zealand v Ireland
Standings, Hawke's Bay Cup
Pool A
1. Japan (7 points)
2. Australia (7 points)
3. Canada (3 points)
4. Korea (0 points)
Pool B
1. New Zealand (6 points)
2. China (3 points)
3. Ireland (3 points)
4. India (0 points)
Hockeyroos’ squad v Canada, Hawke's Bay Cup
Started
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 327/70
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) 167/94
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) 91/9
Georgina Morgan (Armidale, NSW) 33/6
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) 202/68
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA) 94/29
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) 82/13
Casey Sablowski (South Coast, NSW) 239/44
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW) 10/5
Ashlee Wells (Moe, VIC) 71/0
Mariah Williams (Parkes, NSW) 41/5
Used Substitute
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) 102/2
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) 89/9
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT) 163/34
Gabrielle Nance (Kingscliff, NSW) [SASI] 27/2
Kathryn Slattery (South Stirling, WA) 43/11
Unused Substitute
Rachael Lynch (Melbourne, VIC) 143/0
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) 144/59
Hockeryroos’ Hawke’s Bay Cup fixtures
Thursday 7 April – Quarter Finals
Saturday 9 April – Semi Finals
Sunday 10 April - Finals
