Nerves, a lack of international matches and the intense Tokyo heat saw the Hockeyroos’ first game of the women’s hockey tournament look more like an end-to-end tennis match with both sides failing to dominate or convert goal-scoring opportunities.

And it’s not surprising. The Australian team has played just six international matches since March last year, have 10 players making their Games debut and are under the guidance of a new coach.

But it was the manner in which the Hockeyroos exploded moments into the second half against the team that narrowly missed a medal at the recent European titles that had head coach Katrina Powell smiling.

“At times we were a little nervy and I think that is expected in the first game at the Olympics,” Powell said.

“Spain are a very good team. They challenged us definitely; in the first half they owned the midfield, so a structural change at half time shifted that focus.

“The good start in the second half worked really well; to score three goals against Spain is really pleasing.”

The victory was made extra special for striker Emily Chalker who scored in what was her 250th outing for Australia.

“To score three goals in our first match of the Olympic Games is what we have been training for,” said Chalker, who began her hockey career playing on the grass fields not far from her family’s sheep farm in Crookwell in the New South Wales southern tablelands.

“It will give everyone a bit of confidence, settle the nerves to go full steam ahead from here.

“Rosie put it on a platter for me, I just had to make sure I executed that one, open goal, tap it in, that is my bread and butter. I train for that every day, I guess natural instinct just took over.”

Australia kept a relentless Spain scoreless in a tentative opening quarter with Maddy Fitzpatrick unable to convert from a penalty corner at the 10 minute mark.

They backed this up with two penalty corners in the opening minutes of the second quarter but drag flick specialist Karri Somerville and Fitzpatrick failed to penetrate the Spanish goal line.

The Hockeyroos’ defence came under constant pressure with Spain notching three penalty corners, one just five seconds before the half time siren, to leave the teams nil all at the break.

Four goals in six minutes at the start of the third quarter heralded the official start of the match with both teams casting away their Olympic jitters in what was the most explosive quarter of the encounter.

Australia took the lead with Gold Coast striker Rosie Malone putting the first points on the board. She then combined with Stephanie Kershaw just moments later to set Chalker up for a one-touch into the goal to give her side a 2-0 advantage.

Not to be outdone, Spanish striker Beatriz Perez responded just moments later driving a reverse stick shot past keeper Rachael Lynch to score her side’s first goal of the Olympics.

Gerringong forward Grace Stewart put her body on the line in the 37th minute of the match diving for a spectacular tomahawk to claim a 3-1 lead.

Fearless defence by Kate Jenner, Kaitlin Nobbs and Kerri Somerville paired with spirited playmaking by Kershaw to keep their opponents at bay and the final quarter scoreless.

The win gives the Hockeyroos confidence going into Monday’s match against world number 10 China who got the win over host nation Japan 4-3 in the opening game

Catriona Dixon

Match Details

• Hockeyroos 3 (Malone 31’, Chalker 32’, Stewart 37’)
• Spain 1 (Perez 33’)
• @ Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo

Hockeyroos: 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris (c), 4.Amy Lawton, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 12.Greta Hayes, 13.Edwina Bone, 14.Steph Kershaw, 15.Kaitlin Nobbs, 18.Jane Claxton, 20.Karri Somerville, 21.Renee Taylor, 22.Kate Jenner, 26.Emily Chalker, 27.Rachael Lynch (gk), 30.Grace Stewart, 32.Savannah Fitzpatrick

#HaveAGo at Hockey