Kookaburras win Champions Trophy

The Kookaburras have won the 2016 Hero Hockey Champions Trophy after a tense shoot-out with India which saw Australia win 3- 1, with NSWIS’ Simon Orchard scoring the side’s final goal.

Ten minutes in and the Kookaburras had the first chance at a penalty corner for the match, followed in quick succession by three more opportunities. The shots went unconverted, and the ball ended up back down in India’s circle.

With two minutes to go in the first quarter, India’s chance to crack the scoreboard came with two penalty corner opportunities, the second of which Andrew Charter knocked well out of range.

Minutes into the second quarter and Australia had a shot on penalty corner. The opportunity was blocked, and Australia were awarded a penalty stroke opportunity which narrowly missed goal. 

Two more penalty corner chances for Australia in as many minutes. India fired back with a follow up penalty corner of their own. After a fast paced half, the score remained at nil all going into half time.

With three minutes to go in the third quarter, Australia were down to nine players with both Flynn Ogilvie and Trent Mitton sent off with green and yellow cards respectively. The opportunity was missed by India and going into the last quarter the score remained at 0 – 0.

With just over ten minutes to go Matt Dawson was given a ten minute card, leaving Australia to play the rest of the match a player down. With three minutes to go Chandanda Thimmaiah was given a yellow card and both teams were both down to ten.

As full time came, the score was still deadlocked and the gold medal match went to a sudden death shoot out.

Aran Zalewski was up first and knocked the ball into goal with ease. Goalkeeper Tyler Lovell defended Uthappa Sannuvanda leaving the score at AUS 1 – 0 IND.

Daniel Beale followed up and was obstructed by the keeper, therefore taking his shot again – he scored. 

Sunil Sowmarpet and Trent Mitton both followed up and missed their shots. Harmanpreet Singh then scored for India leaving the score at Australia 2 – 1 India.

Simon Orchard was next up for Australia and easily scored. Surender Kumar was up last for India, with the shot blocked, giving Australia the Champions Trophy title with a 3 – 1 shoot-out victory.

On the win, Australian Head Coach, Graham Reid said: “Happy with the result as far as us winning, but disappointed with the fact that we didn’t win it in normal time. We created a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t put them away. 

“We gave away too many cards and it’s very hard to play hockey with nine or ten men. There’s a lot of work to do before Rio, so that’s what we will be concentrating on in the coming weeks.”

Captaining for the side Tim Deavin said: “It was an interesting game, not how we wanted to play. India played pretty well. We had the opportunity and the chances to put them away but we just didn’t score. 

“That’s always going to happen with a quality team like India. If you leave them in the match they’re going to keep coming so I think great that the boys did it in the end with the one on ones, and just happy to be going home with the trophy.” 

KOOKABURRAS 0 (0) 

Def.

INDIA 0 (0)

 *Australia win 3 – 1 over India in sudden death shoot out

Shoot out details:

Aran Zalewski (AUS) Goal

Uthappa Sannuvanda (IND) Miss 

Daniel Beale (AUS) Goal

Sunil Sowmarpet (IND) Miss

Trent Mitton (AUS) Miss 

Harmanpreet Singh (IND) Goal

Simon Orchard (AUS) Goal

Surender Kumar (IND) Miss

                                                                                                                                                                    Kookaburras’ squad v India

Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 

Josh Beltz (Hobart, TAS) 

Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 

Matthew Dawson (Killarney Vale, NSW) 

Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 

Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 

Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 

Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 

Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 

Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 

Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 

Used Substitutes:

Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 

Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW) 

Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 

Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 

Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 

Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW)