Clinical Spain rolls on in Hobart
Published Sat 04 Mar 2023
Spain have continued their dream run in Hobart after defeating the Kookaburras 3-1 on the penultimate day of the FIH Pro League mini tournament in the Tasmanian capital.
The Kookaburras won the penalty corner count 4-0 and were not without their chances, however the Europeans were ruthless when it counted to give them maximum points from their three games so far.
The result leaves the Kookaburras with four points from their four matches as they depart for Rourkela in India for a ‘mini tournament’ against India and Germany starting on 10 March.
As the Kookaburras looked to reverse a 4-2 score line in their previous encounter against Spain, Blake Govers sent the first warning shot when he sent a drag flick low and left that was saved by Spanish goalkeeper Adrian Rafi.
Aran Zalewski and Josh Beltz then combined to get another attacking circle entry, with the former sending his telling touch just wide of the target.
Then against the run of play Marc Escude found an inch of space and smashed a shot past Ben Rennie to put Spain in front just seconds before the quarter time siren.
The Kookaburras implemented a full press trying to cause a turnover in their attacking half, Jack Welch and Nathan Ephraums linking up only for Rafi to save a goal bound ball with his leg.
Some fine interplay between Eddie Ockenden and Craig Marais ended with Jacob Anderson but again the Kookaburras were left frustrated as Spain held firm.
Tempers threatened to boil over in the third quarter when both teams had players yellow carded, before Govers went close to equalising with an expert glance.
Moments later Spain had the ball at the other end and Marc Recasens pulled the trigger to beat Rennie and make it 2-0.
A two goal lead quickly became three when Spain captain Alvaro Igelsias rammed the ball home from near the penalty spot.
Govers pulled a goal back, converting a penalty stroke with nine minutes to go, but it was not to be the Kookaburras’ night.
“There was a lot of improvement over the week, which doesn’t sound good as we didn’t do that well here, but there were a lot of positives and learnings to take out of the four games,” said Govers, who with Tom Craig, Tim Brand, Matt Dawson and Jeremy Hayward will now head to play the remainder of the club hockey season in Europe.
“Two losses against Spain wasn’t what we were hoping for. We knew they were going to be tough, but they were just more clinical than us which is basically where the game was won and lost.”
Match Details
Kookaburras 1 (Govers 51’)
Spain 3 (Escude 15’, Recasens 44’, Igelsias 45’)
@ Tasmanian Hockey Centre
Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski, 18.Ben Rennie (gk), 19.Craig Marais, 20.Ky Willott, 21.Jack Welch, 32.Jeremy Hayward (c)
Unused substitute: 8.Johan Durst (gk)
