Australian 2023 Indoor World Cup wrap up
Published Sun 12 Feb 2023
Australia’s Women’s and Men’s campaigns at the 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup have come to an end following a week of hotly contested competition in South Africa.
Both teams gave as good as they got on indoor hockey’s grandest stage, however contention for the medals wasn’t to be as Austria defended their Men’s title, while the Netherlands were crowned women’s champions.
Australia’s Women’s Team finished fourth in Pool A. They started in ominous fashion with opening wins over the USA and New Zealand before suffering a heavy 8-0 defeat to eventual champions the Netherlands.
Mark Sandhu’s team made a dream start to the tournament with a 4-2 victory over the USA. After going behind early, goals from Caitlin Burns and Samantha Economos arrested the momentum back in Australia’s favour.
Reese D’Ariano’s second of the game right on half time put the USA back on level terms before the Australians put on a late show with two goals in the final three minutes, from Burns and Emma Reid, to ensure they started their campaign in style.
They followed it up with an impressive performance against New Zealand, were outclassed by the Netherlands before narrow losses to hosts South Africa and Austria left the Australian Women in fourth place, securing a quarter final berth against the top team from Pool B.
That team was the Czech Republic who won four of their five matches and scored 26 goals in the process. Australia was always going to be up against it and despite putting up a gallant showing, the result followed the form guide with the Czechs winning 6-0.
Australia’s Men’s Indoor Team hit off their tournament with a 6-goal thriller against host nation South Africa.
The hosts led 2-0 before the Australians clawed their way back, Ben Staines slotting a goal late in the second quarter before Jake Sherren scored off a penalty corner to level the match.
Jake Staines put Australia in front late in the third quarter but a 36th minute equaliser from South African captain Jethro Eustice meant the points would be shared.
Despite a string of third quarter penalty corners, the Australians went down to Argentina 3-1 in their second match with Jake Staines on the score sheet again.
A high scoring 6-4 loss to Iran, which saw Sherren score an outstanding hat-trick, followed before the Australian Men featured in one of the matches of the tournament against the Czech Republic.
Jake Staines scored a hat-trick, however the Australians would be forced to settle with a 4-4 draw after Lukas Plochy’s late equaliser.
Chasing their first win of the tournament, the Australians then went down to the USA 4-2 in their final pool match to see them finish in 6th place.
Steve Willer’s team finished the tournament on a high with a 7-2 rout of New Zealand in the 11th v 12th play-off.
Ben Staines was the chief destroyer with a four-goal haul, with Ryan Pace scoring a double and James Knee netting one in the final quarter.
Australian Women’s Results
5 Feb 2023 AUS v USA (Pool A) 4 - 2
6 Feb 2023 NZL v AUS (Pool A) 1 - 5
7 Feb 2023 AUS v NED (Pool A) 0 - 8
8 Feb 2023 RSA v AUS (Pool A) 1 - 0
9 Feb 2023 AUS v AUT (Pool A) 2 - 4
10 Feb 2023 CZE v AUS (QF) 6 - 0
Australian Men’s Results
5 Feb 2023 AUS v RSA (Pool B) 3 - 3
6 Feb 2023 ARG v AUS (Pool B) 3 - 1
7 Feb 2023 AUS v IRI (Pool B) 4 - 6
8 Feb 2023 AUS v CZE (Pool B) 4 - 4
9 Feb 2023 USA v AUS (Pool B) 4 - 2
11 Feb 2023 NZL v AUS (11th - 12th) 2-7
