Kookaburras prove too good for Black Sticks in Match 3
Published Sat 04 Jun 2022
The Kookaburras have taken an unassailable lead in the Trans-Tasman Series following a 4-1 win in the penultimate match in Auckland.
Five minutes in, the Kookaburras looked to have their first real attempt but an impressive save from Black Sticks goalkeeper George Enersen left scores tied at the first break.
In the second quarter the Kookaburras earned three penalty corners, the first a drag-flick from Jeremy Hayward which missed to the left side.
Three minutes later Blake Govers would break through as he sent a drag-flick into the top left corner of the net to give the Kookaburras a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
A double from Ky Willott was a key part of the side’s victory, his first coming through a tight one-touch reverse shot in the shadows of half time.
Three minutes after the main break the Black Sticks scored their second goal of the Series through 25-year-old Sam Lane to reduce the deficit to one.
However the two goal advantage was soon restored when Willott got a telling touch off a rapid reverse stick cross by Jacob Anderson.
The Black Sticks came out of three-quarter-time with a new level of determination, finding a number of attacking penalty corners and opportunities, but a strong Australian defence quashed any chances.
Jake Harvie showed versatility in defence, the 24-year-old overlapping into attack while still having a prominent presence at the back.
Inside the las five minutes Nathan Ephraums popped up to score his fifth goal for the series. A transfer ball from Harvie to captain Aran Zalewski found its way into the circle and Ephraums did the rest.
Match Details
New Zealand 1 (Lane 33’)
Kookaburras 4 (Govers 22’, Willott 30’/37’, Ephraums 56’)
@ National Hockey Centre, Auckland
Kookaburras: 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matt Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 9.Jacob Anderson, 10.Josh Beltz, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 14.Dylan Martin, 15.Josh Simmonds, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 18.Ben Rennie (gk), 20.Ky Willott, 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
