Kookaburras down England in Men’s Hockey World Cup

The Kookaburras have taken a major step towards an automatic spot in the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals after final quarter blitz sealed a 3-0 win over England in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday night.

Three pinpoint finishes in a 10-minute last quarter blitz from Jake Whetton (47’), Blake Govers (50’) and Corey Weyer (56’) handed an important three points for the top-ranked Australia. The result seals Australia’s spot in the knockout stages, but the side will hope to clinch top spot in Pool B, and an automatic berth in the quarters, in their final game against China PR from 10:30pm AEDT on Friday.

Australia broke the nil-nil deadlock two minutes into the last period when Jake Whetton smashed a superb shot into the backboard from just inside the D after a slalom run from Tom Craig.

Blake Govers then produced some magic with a scintillating shot in the 50th minute, before Weyer capped a fine Swann raid to make it 3-0.

Australia will wait on the late game in Pool B between Ireland and China PR to learn if they’ve secured top spot. A draw would ensure neither side could leapfrog the Kookaburras into top spot, meaning Australia would have booked their quarter-final berth.

Australia 3 (Whetton 47’, Govers 50’, Weyer 56’)
England 0