Well, we’ve got a draw at least having seen both teams score all two goals during each of the two separate halves to wrap up Game 2 in the women’s tri-series between the Hockeyroos v China at Curtin University (Perth Hockey Stadium) in Perth. The first 15 minutes was quiet for a start before China got away with back-to-back goals that gave them the upper hand going into the half-time break. Then the Hockeyroos were relieved to struck one back off the penalty corner by Greta Hayes in the 3rd quarter & although they might have ran out of time unlike yesterday v Japan when Mariah Williams scored the only late winner despite being a great threat in the attacking third, but a quick counter attacking finish by Steph Kershaw thanks to an excellent Hayes intercept was enough to hold China back & deny them the win with seven minutes left on the clock (4th Qtr).
We know how good China was when they make good use of the opposition’s missed opportunities and making the most of their own wisely that rang alarm bells to the Hockeyroos backline with back-to-back 2nd quarter goals in quick succession. If there’s one thing they will need to watch out for is their own defense. They were relieved to get away from the endless Hockeyroos shots on target where most of them were hit and misses but they really need to be careful at times and not losing the ball away which ruined their good start in the end. I would say though when they face Japan next up on Tuesday, they would wanna make the most of their attack against the opposition scrambled defense & that would be the key towards taking away that boost of confidence & possibly coming back better to haunt the Hockeyroos once more come Wednesday.
Meanwhile, it’s good to see the Hockeyroos posing a huge threat in their attack with lots of chances provided to get the job done. Now they could’ve done something better earlier on where there were a lack of numbers for someone to back one up & strike the ball through the net where the Hockeyroos would be pocketing 2-0 their way, not to the other team from China. But they have made some amends at last with Rosie Malone working so hard to take the ball off China later on that provided some much needed relief for the Hockeyroos to get back on track in the middle or within the circle with successful strikes coming from Hayes and Kershaw 1 v 1 past the keeper, even though a late win might have seen the ship being sailed away from both teams by full-time. They got a game next up against Australia A on Tuesday as part of the Olympic preparations that would help sort out their best squad ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris during July-August before coming back for another meeting v China come Wednesday as they need to make the most out of their attacking executions & not let these chances being hit & misses again while making the defense ready and alert so they don’t fall behind later during the match.
