Kookaburras beat Blacksticks to celebrate Govers milestone

Blake Govers marked his 100th international appearance with a goal while Nathan Ephraums scored his first as the Kookaburras accounted for New Zealand 3-0 in Match 2 of the Trans-Tasman Series.

Defender Jeremy Hayward was the other to score, the Kookaburras again proving too strong for the Blacksticks in Palmerston North as they continue to build ahead of July’s Tokyo Olympics.

Looking to turn around a 3-1 result in the first game, the Blacksticks unfortunately lost their captain in the first quarter to an accidental ball to the face for the second successive night, this time Nic Woods on the receiving end.

Kookaburras goalkeeper Tyler Lovell was called upon early to make a slick save high up after the Blacksticks caught the Kookaburras out on the counter attack.

The Kookaburras then started to get into their rhythm and went ahead in the 12th minute.

Captain Eddie Ockenden started the move down the left with effortless control, passing to Ephraums who put the ball into the circle.

Tim Brand showed desperation to keep the chance alive before Ephraums followed up, his initial back flick saved by George Enersen but his persistence paid off as he managed to tumble the ball over the goal line for the first of his Kookaburras career.

Govers then made it 86 goals from 100 games with a clinical drag flick in the 18th minute.

With the Kookaburras defence largely in control, Jake Whetton flashed a shot into the side netting, the margin staying at two going into half time.

Leon Hayward started in goal for New Zealand in the second half and made a quality save to deny Govers a second.

Lachlan Sharp was a livewire in the attacking half of the field as the Blacksticks struggled to contain the Kookaburras’ attacking threats, while the Australians’ tackling and pressure was also a feature when not in possession.

Jeremy Hayward then sealed the result in the 52nd minute when his drag flick beat his brother’s attempted save.

Leon Hayward prevented the score from blowing out further as he kept out another Govers penalty corner attempt.

Jacob Anderson was also keen to get in on the act with a fine individual run that resulted in a penalty corner with 25 seconds left, but the Kookaburras were made to settle for a 3-0 win.

The teams will meet again in Match 3 of the series on Sunday.

Match Details
Kookaburras 3 (Ephraums 12’, Govers 18’, Hayward 52’)
New Zealand 0
@ Massey University Turf

Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden (c), 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 24.Tyler Lovell (gk), 29.Tim Brand, 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused Substitutes: 5.Tom Wickham, 30.Andrew Charter (gk)

New Zealand: 2.Oliver MacIntyre, 3.David Brydon, 4.Dane Lett, 9.Sam Hiha, 10.Steve Edwards, 12.Sam Lane, 14.Jared Panchia, 15.George Enersen (gk), 16.Aidan Sarikaya, 17.Nic Woods (c), 21.Kane Russell, 23.Dylan Thomas, 24.Sean Findlay, 25.Shea McAleese, 28.Dominic Newman, 30.George Muir, 32.Nick Wilson, 34.Leon Hayward (gk)