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2023-24 FIH Pro League, Huge day last night with the Hockeyroos def. USA comfortably 4-0 while Kookaburras got away v India unscathed in a high scoring victory 4-6

by Sports Benches

Here’s another team performance all around by the Hockeyroos thanks to a 4-0 win v USA early in the afternoon over in India. They too have been brilliant both in defense and most importantly also up front in attack. Alice Arnott controlled well inside the circle en route with the opening strike earlier on followed by back-to-back goals by Maddison Brooks & Rebecca Greiner to make it 3-0 at half-time. Claire Colwill helped extend the Kookaburra’s winning score to four off the back of a penalty corner late in the 3rd quarter while things were quiet in the 2nd half. They did well to stop USA though in its tracks despite some good opposition work by the goalkeeper as well as some attacking effort against their own territory, having seen them leave without a goal as the clock ticks down in the end 4-0.

Then we saw such a close high scoring game between India and the Kookaburras later on at midnight our time. Forward Blake Govers absolutely bagged two quick goals off Aran Zalewski for the Kookaburras just inside two minutes into the match before India dominated most of the first half thanks to skipper Harmanpreet Singh off penalty corners going into half-time 4-2. So a few ill-discipline here & there has gave them the upper hand but the game isn’t over yet. As the game goes on, the Kookaburras found the net again after a predominantly quiet 3rd quarter that rounds off Govers’s hat-trick haul. Then they went even better in the 4th & final quarter to level India at 4-4 all before the Kookaburras can taste the winning feeling on what has been a mighty team effort 4-6 thanks to Lachlan Sharp, Jacob Anderson & Jack Welch.

Both of our men’s and women’s hockey teams sit 2nd now on their respective team ladders in the 2023-24 FIH Pro League season with the Kookaburras v Netherlands next up tonight followed by Hockeyroos v India tomorrow. 

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2023-24 FIH Pro League, the Men’s Kookaburras team fired off with back-to-back wins while the Women’s Hockeyroos answer their opening 3-0 loss with a 2-0 win v China

by Sports Benches

Field Hockey goes on and on over the last couple of days with the Men’s Kookaburras team started their 2023-24 FIH Pro League season from Sunday with back-to-back wins against Spain and Ireland while the Hockeyroos had a few days off at the same time after their huge 6-2 loss against the Netherlands last Friday before they finished off their opening game payback v China last night. In the first men’s game, the Kookaburras were way out in front thanks to a wonderful start 0-3 earlier on before Spain has held them back in between the half-time breaks during the 3rd quarter at 3-3 apiece. Fortunately, we were able to escape the Spanish unscathed in the end 3–4 thanks to a game-winning strike upfront by Lachlan Sharp, who got his 2nd goal into the net with eight minutes to go (4th quarter). Two days later, they made even more winning progress – having led comfortably 3-0 in the 1st half before they collected two more including another Kye Willott finisher to make up a thumping 5-0 win v Ireland. And last but not least, the Hockeyroos have returned for their 2nd Indian leg yesterday where the game might be quiet for nearly the first half but they at least got away with two goals back from their opening game defeat before last week v China. Grace Stewart has scored once again as many goals per match now & Steph Kershaw finished off her side’s quick counter-attacking play for the 2nd even against without a goalkeeper involved with a clean strike into the net.

Now there’s a huge double-header tonight with the Hockeyroos starting the day early v USA again before the Kookaburras take on India later on during midnight our time in the hope of continuing their unbeaten run for win No.3 so far this week.

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The Stewart’s continued to shine for the Hockeyroos but the whole pitch still has the No.1 Netherlands side written all over it

by Sports Benches

It was a very tough day in the office last night after the Hockeyroos were beaten so bad by the top-ranked & free scoring Netherlands team. The Netherlands have started off well who scored three goals in the first two quarters before Tatum Stewart snatched one back for the Hockeyroos ahead of half-time at 3-1. Unfortunately, the Hockeyroos fell way behind later on where the Dutch kept on scoring with their extended lead during the 2nd half. Marjin Veen got away with a hat-trick while midfielder Yibbi Jansen continued to score as always with two off the penalty corner. Yes, another Stewart in Grace have added the 2nd consolation goal for the Hockeyroos herself in the 4th & final Quarter on what has been her third goal this week like the other Stewart in Tatum. But again, a tough pill swallow against a very strong & powerful Dutch side with the loss by 6-2. 

Marjin Veen is such a goal scoring machine where a mistake of two or a missed scoring opportunity from the opposition would give her the benefit to ruin them in return following her first International career hat-trick. She’s got a great eye right in front of goal every time the ball was given to her where Veen wanted it so badly from her own numbers in the final third attack before she has the licence to thrill to finish it off past the keeper with credit to their possession. There’s another goal Dutch scoring machine in the middle of the park of Yibbi Jansen, especially when it comes to penalty corners off the back from Hockeyroos’ ill-discipline with two goals to her name where she struck really well like a rocket. She too would’ve liked to get a hat-trick herself but Jansen will ensure that the Dutch will keep on firing with lots of goal scoring chances for the team including some for herself on top of the benchmark with 11 goals this season. And finally, so sorry to the Hockeyroos where they defended hard against the No.1 team but some missed finishing chances also turned the favour to the Dutch after the huge loss. Hats off to Steph Kershaw up front having gave two goals to the Stewart’s – one for Tatum via the penalty corner & another for Grace later on when she found some space through the channels. It’s just not her day where things could’ve been better if her team successfully converted all chances into goals that would the Hockeyroos a fighting chance v the Dutch, but again they are a team that is unstoppable & it’s up to them to respond before coming back with confidence next time around.

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2023-24 FIH Pro Hockey League, Hockeyroos strike 3-0 this time v India from Wednesday thanks to a Kaitlin Nobbs masterclass ahead of their next match v the Netherlands tonight

by Sports Benches

From a 3-0 loss at a start to now back-to-back 3-0 wins, the Hockeyroos were on fire two days ago v India ahead of a huge showdown later tonight v the No.1 ranked Netherlands side. It might have been a quiet first quarter but they too have opened the scoring account with two goals ahead of half-time thanks to Grace Stewart & Tatum Stewart. Although things were quiet again in the 3rd quarter while they hold a 2-0 advantage before Kaitlin Nobbs completed her attacking masterclass that sealed the Hockeyroos’ 2nd win this week towards the end 3-0.

As said, hats off to Kaitlin Nobbs who has been a huge menace for the Indian defenders with her excellent attacking performance of two assists to the Stewart’s followed by that 1 v 1 counter-attacking finish herself off the left side pitch. She always made sure that the communication is there with her numbers before all systems can go to finish it off the work for her either way. Meanwhile, Grace Stewart has scored once again where she’s been an excellent threat upfront with credit from the service being given in the final third. So much pace and physicality alongside a great height on offer every time she appears up close off the net as she can do anything & everything that is right in front of her.

And considerations to India there with the loss at home, having won possession earlier on with some opportunities here & there. But unfortunately, the executions was vague while the defense was wide open & vulnerable that made it so easy for the Hockeyroos to get the job done at their own territory. They lost two goals in the lead up towards half time before it was too late after India struggled to find the net all along with the loss 3-0.

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2023-24 FIH Pro League, Hockeyroos turn from 0-3 to 3-0 clean sweep with the win v the USA

by Sports Benches

Good to see the Hockeyroos women’s team turn around yesterday from a 3-0 loss the other day v China to a 3-0 win v the USA. It was a brilliant team effort all around where they scored the first two goals by Tatum Stewart & Stephanie Akers has in the lead up towards half-time before they added one more goal thanks to a brilliant tap-in finish right into the net from Grace Stewart to make it 3-0. So what a relief that is as they are 4th in the standings right now ahead of their next match v India at midnight tomorrow morning. For the Americans, it’s been a tough start for them having been beaten so hard by the Netherlands 7-0 followed by another loss against the Hockeyroos. They will haven’t scored any goals yet ahead of another tough series of challenges going forward with China at the same time tomorrow as well as India on Friday.

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2024 FIH Hockey5 World Cup Review where the Netherlands swoops both the men’s and women’s tournaments with all-in-one gold

by Sports Benches

New year, new tournament with a fast twist of Field Hockey called the FIH Hockey5 World Cup being rolled out for the first time nearly two weeks ago in Muscat, Oman. The pitch size has also been reduced from its normal layout where you only can have five players each on the field including four substitutes on the bench; So does the time as well that will last up to 30 minutes with two 15-minute halves & a short two-minute break in between. Yes, our Aussie Men’s & Women’s teams may have performed below expectations as hoped for when it comes to a shot in the medal Playoff rounds other than the consolation win v Zambia in the Women’s tournament. However, they did okay with some mixed results in the classification round before both Aussie teams wrapped up their respective campaigns on a high following their 11th playoff wins v New Zealand (men) & Fiji (women). Meanwhile, both men’s and women’s winners belongs to the Netherlands who were outstanding all along to take home their respective gold medals for Hockey5’s first ever World Cup tournament. In the women, the Netherlands defeated India very comfortably before it even ended towards full-time 7-2. Then few days later for the men’s, although they were equalised by Malaysia at 1-1 after opening the account first earlier on; but they didn’t stop attacking though having stretched their winning lead before the men stood up tall like their country’s female team in the gold medal final 5-2. What a week it has been where one country has won it all by the team in Orange named the Netherlands.

Now it’s back to regular match hockey with the FIH Pro League in full swing again after the Christmas and New Year’s period where the Hockeyroos (women) lost to China 3-0 yesterday to start their new season campaign while the Men Kookaburra’s first game of the year will come this Sunday 11 pm AEDT v Spain as all of this month’s series of matches are held in India.

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