Australia Masters Men’s Over 40’s win World Cup silver

The Hockey Australia Masters Men’s Over 40’s team has returned home with a silver medal from the 2022 Masters Hockey World Cup in Nottingham, England.

With most of the team having never met until a week prior to the tournament, the team gelled well, finishing the pool matches with a goal difference of 28-1. In the Final they faced England and it went down to the wire, the hosts prevailing in a shootout.

Meeting in West Sussex seven days prior to the World Cup, Australia’s team, made up of players from six states and territories, got together for a training camp at Ardingly College. Gary Porteous (Coach), Anthony Traill (Captain) and Matthew Hotchkis (Vice-Captain) had a clear vision on the style of hockey they wanted the team to play.

Five days in camp followed by a train journey to Nottingham and the team arrived brimming with confidence. Starting the tournament against Scotland, the Australians quickly found their feet and secured a 4-0 victory. This was followed by wins over the USA and Argentina without a goal conceded.

A solid 5-0 victory over Malaysia meant the team was clear at the top of the table. Italy were gallant in defeat, but a 12-0 score line meant Australia was clear at the top of the pool.

The final pool match against Spain was a spiteful affair. Conceding an early goal, Australia stuck to the process and fought back well to run out 2-1 winners.

With the top team from each pool going straight into the gold medal match, Australia met England in the decider. The home nation had featured in all three gold medal matches (Men’s and Women’s 35’s and Women’s 40’s) and had been victorious in all three.

England started strongly and scored early after the Australian defence was caught out by an overhead. Australia fought hard to gain some ascendancy, but England doubled their advantage in the third quarter.

Australia scored from a penalty stroke to claw themselves back into the match, and then with two minutes to go, scored one of the goals of the tournament to equalise and send the match to a shoot-out.

However, it was England who held their nerve when it counted, winning the shoot-out 3-1 to take the gold medal.

In the first international excursion by an Australian Masters team since 2018, it was an outstanding campaign form this Australian team.

The team
Anthony Traill (VIC), Matthew Hotchkis (ACT), Adam Bannister (NSW), Kula Bhullar (QLD), Matthew Bottomley (WA), Alan Charlton (NSW), Allen Jamba (NSW), Brett Maff (QLD), Duncan Mahony (QLD), Philip Marshall (WA), Chris Martin (QLD), Ian McGregor (NSW), Daniel McPherson (NSW), Andrew Purcell (VIC), Nigel Toussaint (VIC), Andrew Ward (QLD), Brett Withington (TAS), Gary Porteous (Coach), Mark Matheson (Manager), Suzie Goodall (Physio)

Article written by Mark Matheson