Peris fires Hockeyroos to victory over New Zealand
Published Thu 12 May 2022
Brooke Peris pounced twice to edge the Hockeyroos past the Black Sticks 2-1 in the second match of the Trans-Tasman Series in Auckland tonight.
Captaining the team in her 184th international, Peris scored in the first quarter and again in the last, her goal three minutes from full time deciding the result after Olivia Shannon had drawn the home side level in the 39th minute.
Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell went in with the same 18 players that drew in the opening match of the series, with Aleisha Power starting in goal in place of Jocelyn Bartram.
Forced to come from behind in Match 1, the Hockeyroos found themselves ahead in the 13th minute.
A low hard drag flick from Maddy Fitzpatrick from a penalty corner was blocked by Black Sticks goalkeeper Kirsten Nation and Peris was perfectly positioned and showed lightning reaction to produce a world class first time strike.
Play was delayed momentarily in the second quarter when Rosie Malone was struck in the wrist by a firmly hit ball at close range, the midfielder in visible discomfort as she came from the field and played no further part in the match.
A piece of individual brilliance inside the attacking circle from Shannon in the 39th minute locked the scores up at 1-1.
But it was the Hockeyroos that finished the game the stronger and appeared the more likely to snatch a winner.
The Hockeyroos’ reward came in the 57th minute when they took the ball from one side of the field to the other before Jane Claxton’s ball into the circle bobbled off the stick of Black Sticks captain Megan Hull, bounced past teammate Ani Roberts allowing Peris to swoop and smash the ball home.
Speaking after her two goal heroics, Peris said the win was a bittersweet one considering Malone’s injury.
“We started playing to our strengths and I’m really proud of the team’s performance,” said Peris.
“Sadly Rosie got injured and you never want to see anyone you care about go down. But she will bounce back in no time.”
“We still have two games to go and have a lot of learnings to take away from tonight’s performance, but in saying that we are happy and enjoying it together.”
Match 3 of the Sentinel Homes Trans-Tasman Series is on Saturday at 1.35pm AEST. The series is broadcast LIVE in Australia on LIVEHockey (subscription required).
Match Details
New Zealand 1 (Shannon 39’)
Hockeyroos 2 (Peris 13’/57’)
@ National Hockey Centre, Auckland
Hockeyroos: 1.Claire Colwill, 2.Rosie Malone, 3.Brooke Peris (c), 4.Amy Lawton, 6.Penny Squibb, 7.Aleisha Power (gk), 8.Georgia Wilson, 9.Shanea Tonkin, 10.Maddy Fitzpatrick, 11.Meg Pearce, 12.Greta Hayes, 13.Hattie Shand, 18.Jane Claxton, 20.Karri Somerville, 24.Mariah Williams, 28.Hannah Cullum-Sanders, 29.Rebecca Greiner
Unused substitute: 19.Jocelyn Bartram (gk)
