Hayward double leads Kookaburras to gritty win
Published Thu 11 Apr 2024
Prolific goal scorer Jeremy Hayward has helped the Kookaburras continue a Series clean sweep at the Perth International Festival of Hockey.
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In what was the third Test in five days, India showed up with a different game plan, breaking down Australia's options and starving them of a goal in the first half.
And while India lacked discipline and the Kookaburras earned penalty corner after penalty corner, nothing could get past India's goalkeepers P.R. Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
Handling every option Australia threw at them in the first two quarters, it took until the 41st minute before the deadlock was finally broken. The advantage swung in India's direction, as they took the lead hunting their first win of the Series.
Holding the momentum for the first time in the match, India continued to charge but Australia wouldn't let up and within three minutes, the Kookaburras had their 11th penalty corner and this time, they made the most of it.
Levelling the score through Hayward's sublime penalty stroke, but it was his second in the final quarter which would seal the result and see Australia claim a narrow victory.
Cementing himself as the Series leading goalscorer with four goals in three matches, Hayward reminded everyone post-match why this Series is so crucial for the Kookaburras squad.
"We're treating this as five individual matches and we just need to get better as a team," Hayward said post-match.
"We're still trying to find the best combination for Paris so it's gonna be tough. There are 27 deserving blokes right there and we'll see how it goes. We're still building."
Commenting on the strength India keeps showing in this Series, Hayward says he expects them to come out even harder.
"They're adapting, they're changing and they're a really good side and we expect that again, they won't give up I'm sure."
In line to play his 100th match in Test 4 on Friday night is Perth local Tom Wickham.
Wickham will become the third Kookaburra to celebrate a milestone on home soil, in the same spot he debuted 100 matches earlier.
"I don't take any games for granted. Every game I've played I've earned, so every single one is important," Wickham said post-match.
"Whether it's another Test match, or it's a game in a final against the biggest teams in the world... it's really important and they all mean the world to me."
You can see the full Perth International Festival of Hockey schedule here.
Match Details
Kookaburras: 2 (Jeremy Hayward 44' & 49')
India: 1 (Jugraj Singh 41')
At Perth Hockey Stadium
Kookaburras: 1. Lachlan Sharp, 3. Corey Weyer, 4. Jake Harvie, 5. Tom Wickham, 6. Matt Dawson, 8. Johan Durst (gk), 9. Jacob Anderson, 11. Eddie Ockenden, 9. Jacob Anderson, 12. Jake Whetton, 17. Aran Zalewski (c), 19. Craig Marais, 20. Ky Willott, 26. James Collins, 27. Joel Rintala, 29. Tim Brand, 30. Andrew Charter (gk), 32. Jeremy Hayward
