India went down tamely 1-5 to Australia in the first match of the Perth International Hockey Festival underway at Perth, Australia.

With a goal apiece from Tim Brand (3rd min) and Tom Wicham in the 20th minute, the hosts Australia lead 2-0 against India in the first match of the Perth International Festival series going on at Perth, Australia. The third quarter which proved to be India’s bugbear when two successive goals were struck against them in the space of two minutes. Gurjant Singh narrowed the margin, but was too little and too late.

While Australia showed urgency and matching vigour to put a goal in each quarter, India on the other hand was a bit rusty in its attack in particular.

For instance, Manpreet strove hard in the 17th minute and got a penalty corner. However, Indian players could not make use of the godsend opportunity. The pushed ball could not be stopped properly, and in the ensured follow up attack, Australians overcrowded to ward off the danger.

A moment later, a fast attack saw a loose ball entering the right inside area of the circle, but of all the persons, Mandeep Singh failed to trap the ball, getting himself wrong-footed. Momentary lapses such that saw India falling before flaw-less Aussies.

Rusty India caved in early in the third half, both Tom Wickham and Joel striking a goal in sucessive minute, bemusing goalie PR Sreejesh. He has so far conceded three goals.

India came alive early in the fourth quarter when Gurjant Singh could strike hard with reverse from on the top edge of the circle (1-4). This happened after India successfully defended  yet another PC.

Flynn Ogilvie bounced on to a rebound from Pathak, who saved the first shot during the penalty corner drill, to seal the match at 5-1 when just three minutes left for the hooter.

Aran Zeleswki was declared the Best Player.