It’s winning ways for the Kookaburras ahead of the Men’s Champion’s Trophy as Australia defeated England 5-2 at the International Super Series Hockey 9’s in Perth.
The four-day tournament bought the Kookaburras together for the first time since the London Olympics and provided a good chance for coach Ric Charlesworth to run his eye over a number of players prior to the December 1-9 tournament in Melbourne.
It was five-time world player of the year Jamie Dwyer who got things going for the Kookaburras scoring the opening goal.
Joining Dwyer on the score sheet in the first ten minutes of the game was Eddie Ockenden and Matt Ghodes who helped setup what was a brilliant first half of hockey from the Australians.
The second half was evenly matched with England finding the back of the net twice through Ally Brogdon and Harry Martin to make things interesting.
Late on in the second half Whetton scored a second and ensured the Kookaburras would win back-to-back Hockey 9’s titles.
The Hockeyroos made it an Australian double securing a 2-0 victory over the Jillaroos.
It was the Jillaroos who started the better of the two but were unable to take their chance and would pay for it midway through the first half when Teneal Attard found her way into the area to score.
In a tight second half that mirrored the first Jill Dwyer put things beyond doubt and ensured the Hockeyroos would claim successive titles.
In the men’s third place playoff it was Pakistan who shocked India with their first win of the tournament.
Pakistan started the better of the two and a double from Rashid Mehmood was the difference to ensure the 5-2 victory.
The International Super Series Hockey 9's is a unique and exciting concept that is played with nine players and a modified game time of 20-minute halves with larger goals to ensure plenty of action.
Women’s final
Jillaroos 0
Hockeyroos 2 (Jill Dwyer 1, Teneal Attard 1)
Men’s final
Kookaburras 5 (Jacob Whetton 2, Jamie Dwyer 1, Eddie Ockenden 1, Matt Ghodes 1)
England 2 (Ally Brogdon 1, Harry Martin 1)
Source: Hockey Australia Media Release
