Kookaburras charge on with dominant win over Ireland

The Kookaburras made it two from two in India with a dominant display over their Paris Olympics Pool B counterparts, Ireland.

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Showcasing the Kookaburras’ depth of experience, well over 1000 caps watched on from the stands, as head coach Colin Batch made six changes to his line-up, following Sunday night’s 4-3 win over Spain.
 
That included Australia’s most capped player ever, Eddie Ockenden and all three goal scorers from game one, Lachlan Sharp, Blake Govers and Jake Whetton.
 
While Ireland was running out for just the second time ever in the Pro League and hunting their first win, after a 5-1 loss to the Netherlands in their opening match.
 
Ireland started strong, happy to sit deep and allow Australia to maintain most of the possession. Neither side was able to break the deadlock heading into the first break.
 
But Australia ever-dangerous on attack unleashed and within 10 minutes they were 3-0 up and looking unstoppable.
 
Lane Cove’s Tom Craig claimed the first, as he positioned himself perfectly in the right place at the right time, to touch it straight past the keeper and into the back of the net.
 
Laughing post-match Tom Craig said, "I made a couple of miss traps but that was definitely the best one! We train a lot just getting in front at the right time and if you put yourself in a good spot sometimes you get lucky and that was probably what happened today."
 
From there, the Kookaburras played with all the momentum and Ireland’s keeper didn’t stand a chance when Jeremy Hayward claimed another, with a perfectly struck drag flick from the top of the circle.
 
Before too long, Colin Batch was up in applause as his side delivered a team goal to celebrate. Ky Willott sending the ball straight past the top right shoulder of the Irish keeper, following a perfect pass from Tom Craig.
 
In the third, Australia bagged their fourth as Nathan Ephraums single-handedly beat four defenders before striking it straight into the net.
 
Goalie Andrew Charter blocked Ireland’s best chance at getting on the board before Ky Willott claimed his second.

"When you have a big squad on tour it's a balancing act making sure everyone has minutes, we know in Olympic year, any year, it takes the full squad members to have a good result."

"Today, with that many caps on the sideline, it's a good testament to who we have stepping up at the time."

The Kookaburras will enjoy a day off from competition, before they take on the hosts India on Thursday night, just hours after the Hockeyroos take on the USA.

"There's nothing quite like playing India in India, it's one of life's great treats... we hope the crowd comes out in force because there's nothing quite like it."
 
The Hockeyroos continue their FIH Pro League campaign tomorrow night in Rourkela with back-to-back games against China before the USA.
 
Match Details
 
Kookaburras: 5 (Tom Craig 17’, Jeremy Hayward 22’, Ky Willott 25’ & 57’, Nathan Ephraums 43’)
Ireland: 0
In Bhubaneswar, India
 
Kookaburras: 4. Jake Harvie, 6. Matt Dawson, 7. Nathan Ephraums, 16. Tim Howard, 17. Aran Zalewski, 20. Ky Willott, 22. Flynn Ogilvie, 23. Daniel Beale (c), 29. Tim Brand, 30. Andrew Charter (gk), 32. Jeremy Hayward, 2. Tom Craig, 3. Corey Weyer, 5. Tom Wickham, 8. Johan Durst (gk), 10. Joshua Beltz, 15. Jayden Atkinson, 21. Jack Welch