The Kookaburras have put themselves one win away from a spot at next year’s Olympic Games after holding off New Zealand 3-1 on the opening night of the Oceania Cup in Whangarei.

The silver medallists from the Tokyo Games had the dream start when Jake Whetton scored one of the fastest Oceania Cup goals in the tournament’s history to put the Kookaburras in front after 26 seconds.

A trademark drag flick by New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder, Blake Govers, doubled the lead in the 8th minute before the home side pegged a goal back just before quarter time.

Despite the Kookaburras creating the greater chances, the game remained delicately poised until Tom Craig, a NSWIS athlete, sealed the result late on.

The Kookaburras now need to win either of the next two games against the Black Sticks on Saturday or Sunday to book their ticket to Paris.

The eagerly awaited contest started in remarkable fashion. New Zealand had the opening pushback, however the ball was quickly turned over and Daniel Beale, 100 gamer Flynn Ogilvie (NSWIS) and Whetton combined to lethal effect to strike inside the opening minute.

Black Sticks goalkeeper (and brother of Kookaburras defender Jeremy) Leon Hayward kept out Govers’ drag flick from the Kookaburras’ first penalty corner of the match.

However, Govers would not be denied when given another opportunity from a set piece as he sent his shot into the bottom left hand corner to make it 2-0.

Craig forced another save from Hayward as the Kookaburras looked to pounce on the counter with the Black Sticks goal under siege.

Kookaburras goalkeeper Johan Durst then produced a superb save from a Kane Russell drag flick to deny New Zealand’s first real chance of the game.

With the Kookaburras in control, it was the Black Sticks that struck against the run of play through Sam Lane.

Both sides probed without reward through the second and third periods, before some Ky Willott (NSWIS) magic allowed Craig to put the result beyond doubt.

Willott produced some sublime 3D skills along the goal line, finding Ogilvie who turned the ball towards goal and Craig was at the far post to tap it in.

The Kookaburras had 15 shots to five in the match and will be hoping for a similar ratio to give them every chance to wrap up the series when the teams meet again at 2.00pm AEST on Saturday.

“We’re really proud to come out here and put on a good performance and get the result,” said Kookaburras captain Aran Zalewski.

“There were some really positive signs from our group today that we hope to build on for the rest of the weekend.”

“When you knock in a goal in the first 30 seconds it’s nice and quite euphoric because there’s a lot of adrenalin running.”

“Tonight was a tough match. The Kiwis had a few chances to level it, so I’m sure the matches on the weekend will be close again.”

The Oceania Cup is LIVE and free on 7plus.

Match Details
New Zealand 1 (Lane 14’)
Kookaburras 3 (Whetton 1’, Govers 8’, Craig 56’)
@ Whangarei

Kookaburras: 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 8.Johan Durst (gk), 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 15.Jayden Atkinson, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 20.Ky Willott, 21.Jack Welch, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused substitute: 18.Ben Rennie (gk)

Story courtesy of Hockey Australia

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