Kookaburras blast Black Sticks in game one
Published Tue 31 May 2022
The Kookaburras have decisively won the opening game of the 2022 Trans-Tasman Series after recording a triumphant 8-1 victory over New Zealand.
The game featured a Kookaburras goal fest thanks to a hat-trick from 22-year-old Nathan Ephraums, while Blake Govers scored twice, which included his 100th international goal.
Colin Batch’s Kookaburras line-up in Auckland featured 13 players who won an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo last year.
For the hosts, they were looking to end a losing drought against the Kookaburras, with 2016 the last time they beat the Australians.
The Black Sticks were first to hit the scoreboard against the run of play in the second quarter. David Brydon won a free hit in the defensive half and was rewarded for his hard running as he found himself in space in the attacking circle moments later to fire a reverse shot home, his first international goal.
The Kookaburras’ reply was swift. Co-captain Aran Zalewski sent a pass along the baseline, finding Ephraums perfectly positioned on the back post to make it 1-1.
Minutes later Flynn Ogilvie had the Kookaburras’ second as a circle penetrating push goalward managed to sneak over the line.
The green and gold tide continued as Josh Beltz crashed a ball through to a dangerous spot. This allowed Ephraums to score his second after he came from nowhere to finish a reverse deflection into the back of the net.
After winning a penalty stroke after a goal-bound ball hit a Black Sticks defender on the line, Govers stepped up to score his 100th international goal in his 114th appearance to make it 4-1.
The juggernaut continued as Tom Wickham chimed in with his 34th international goal, followed by Ephraums who completed his hat-trick with a classy deflection that ended in the roof of the goal.
An elite Govers drag flick from Australia’s 10th penalty corner hit the top of the net to extend the Kookaburras’ lead further heading into the final break.
The final quarter saw the game’s trend continue as Beltz’s baseline ball found Jacob Andersen on the post make it 8-1.
After the Kookaburras started the game a goal down, they put the pedal to the floor through offensive and defensive pressure to score eight goals and comfortably wrap up Match 1 of the series.
Match 2 of the 4-match Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series is on Thursday 2 June at 5.05pm (AEST). The series is broadcast LIVE in Australia on LIVEHockey (subscription required).
Match Details
New Zealand 1 (Brydon 18’)
Kookaburras 8 (Ephraums 20’/28’/44’, Ogilvie 22’, Wickham 39’, Govers 31’/45’, Anderson 52’)
@ National Hockey Centre, Auckland
Kookaburras: 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 8.Johan Durst (gk), 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 20.Ky Willott, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
