Aussies crush Kiwis to rescue national pride

MOENCHENGLADBACH: Australia rescued national pride with a 9-1 Champions Trophy mauling of New Zealand, just hours after the All Blacks had crushed the Wallabies 49-28 in a rugby union Test match.

Australia captain Jamie Dwyer scored an early goal and then the floodgates opened in the last nine minutes of the first half.

Luke Doerner converted his first penalty corner followed by field goals for Jason Wilson, Simon Orchard and Glenn Turner, punctuated by New Zealand’s only goal by Nicholas Wilson.

New Zealand pressured Australia’s midfield through the first 15 minutes of the second half without either team scoring.

Australia, bidding for a third successive Champions Trophy title, soaked up the pressure and Wilson scored a spectacular goal from the left backline.

Doerner converted a second penalty corner and Russell Ford put away a rebound off Doerner’s penalty corner flick and a second field goal to complete the 9-1 scoreline.

Australia coach Richard Charlesworth praised New Zealand.

“New Zealand’s effort in the second half was very credible – they were very competitive and they made the second half a much more even game,” Charlesworth said.

“We understand how difficult New Zealand can be to beat and I think we understand that better than some other countries.”

Blacksticks coach Shane McLeod conceded Australia’s superiority.

“Australia played very, very well and they outclassed us in most aspects of the game,” McLeod said.

“They are a side that can destroy a team far more than any other team. They were very clinical in their finishing and generally better in the circle than us.”

In other opening day matches, Germany cruised past England 4-2 while Netherlands saw off Spain 5-2.

Germany striker Oskar Deecke set the pattern for England’s demise, finishing a pass from Benjamin Wess from outside the circle, deflected around England’s defence by Florian Fuchs for Deecke to score the easiest unchallenged goal at the left post.

Jan-Marco Montag, Martin Haner, and Benjamin Wess converted penalty corners in the first half to give Germany a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

Germany failed to maintain the pressure on England in the second half, conceding two converted penalty corners to Ashley Jackson.

England coach Jason Lee blasted his team.

“It was as bad as I can recall us playing. We were lethargic and sluggish and it looked like some of them had not actually played hockey before during parts of the match,” fumed Lee.

Netherlands’ winning scoreline belied the skill and closeness of the match as well as the quality of the fight by Spain in the second half in front of a large Dutch crowd from across the border.

Jeroen Hertzberger set the tone with a brilliant individual goal, receiving a long overhead in the left pocket to beat four defenders in the circle and push under experienced goalkeeper Francisco Cortes.

Spain immediately replied through Pau Quemada’s field goal.

Netherlands found holes in Spain’s defence for Hertzberger to score again, Mink van der Weerden converted a penalty corner and veteran Teun de Nooijer deflected in a pass from outside the circle, giving Netherlands a commanding 4-1 lead at the break.

David Alegre scored for Spain immediately after the break and Rogier Hofman added a field goal for Netherlands in the middle of the second half.

New Netherlands coach Paul van Ass believes he has the right formula for his team.

“I was very pleased particularly with the interceptions and that is the biggest difference between now and the last years of the Dutch national team, although it took me three weeks to convince these guys,” van Ass said.

On Sunday, New Zealand play Germany, Netherlands meet Australia and Spain confront England.