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Reigning champions Australia mauled debutants China 11-0 and England got the better of Ireland 4-2 in respective last Pool-B matches of the 14 th Hockey Men’s World Cup here at Kalinga Stadium today. Already in the quarterfinals, Australia secured their top position in the pool with full nine points.
Despite the heavy defeat, China progress to the cross-overs, finishing third in the pool with two points. England also made it to the cross-overs, taking second positition in the pool with fourpoints. Howver, Ireland were eliminated from the competition as they finished at the bottom of the pool table with one point. In the cross-over matches, England will play New Zealand, while China will take on France on Monday 10 December.
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Australia (World Ranking: 1) were already confirmed as the winners of Pool B following their impressive 3-0 victory over England earlier on December 4, but that did not stop them wanting to maintain their winning streak in the match against China (WR:17).
The Kookaburras were at their scintillating best in the first quarter to open up a 2-0 lead, with Blake Govers finding the roof of the China net from a penalty corner before a tap-in from Aran Zelewski doubled the advantage. Four Australian goals arrived in the fourth quarter, with Tom Craig, a second for Govers, Jeremy Hayward and a fine team goal finished off by the exceptional Jake Whetton, who showed incredible reactions to dive in and guide the ball home from close range.
At 6-0, the Australians could have been forgiven for easing off in the two remaining quarters, but it not something any Kookaburras side could ever be accused of. A further five goals flew into the China net, with Player of the Match Blake Govers completing his hat-trick alongside efforts from Tim Brand (2), Dylan Wotherspoon and Flynn Ogilvie on target as Australia made it three wins from three matches.
The second game of the day saw Ireland (WR:10) play England (WR:7) with both teams having one point each at the start of the game. China’s heavy defeat meant that both Ireland and England only needed to draw in order to progress through to the knock-out stages, as their respective goal differences were now superior to the team from Asia.
English player David Condon opened the scoring in the last minute of the first quarter. The start of the second half was full of excitement. Ireland scored equalizer in the 35th minute through Chris Cargo. However, two minutes later, Liam Ansell gave the lead again to England thanks to a fantastic hit into the roof of the net. This was not enough to discourage the Green Machine who, just a few seconds later, equalized again with a beautiful drag-flick from Shane O’Donoghue from a penalty-corner.
But England went immediately on the attack again and scored a third goal only one minute later with a superb deflection from James Gall. Ireland nearly equalized again seconds before the end of the third quarter but Michael Darling missed the target. In the last minute of the game, England converted a penalty-corner for their fourth goal by Mark Gleghorne.
RESULTS:
Dec 7 (Match No 19, Pool-B): Australia (Blake Govers 10-PC, 19-PC, 34-FG; Alan Zalewski 15-PC, Tom Craig 16-FG, Jeremy Hayward 22-PC, Jake Whetton 29-FG, Tim Brand 33-FG, 55-FG; Dylan Wotherspoon 38-FG, Flynn Ogilvie 49-FG) beat China 11-0. PoM: Blake Govers.
Dec 7 (Match No 20, Pool-B): England (David Condon 15-FG, Liam Ansell 37-FG, James Gall 38-FG, Mark Gleghorne 60-PC) Ireland (Chris Cargo 35-FG, Shane O’Donoghue 37-PC) 4-2. PoM: Liam Ansell.
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TOP: Players of Australia celebrate after their thumping win over China on December 7, 2018.
RIGHT: Liam Ansell of England receives the Player of the Match award from Odisha High Court judge Justice Debabrata Dash on Dec 7, 2018.
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