3 minute read
Blake Govers and Jeremy Hayward each netted a brace of penalty corners as the Kookaburras beat host the Netherlands 4-1in the FIH Pro League.
The Kookaburras have overcome a bizarre match delay to claim their tenth win in 14 FIH Pro League matches with a 4-1 victory over the Netherlands.
With the pitch watering system failing on Saturday, the match was delayed by two hours in Amstelveen before the local fire brigade came to the rescue to water the surface and ensure the game was on.
Blake Govers and Jeremy Hayward then netted two penalty corners each as table-topping Australia earned themselves a further boost heading into next week's FIH Pro League Grand Final event.
Australia won their first penalty corner after just five minutes, which Govers duly converted, although the Dutch soon responded with a penalty corner of their own, finished by Jip Janssen.
Late in the first quarter, the tourists were awarded another penalty corner and Hayward flicked it home to reclaim the lead.
Govers then grabbed his second to lift him equal top scorer of the Pro League alongside Spain's Pau Quemada on 10, before a last-minute referral from Australia was again successful, allowing Hayward to convert from another penalty corner.
"It was a pretty good game, we are pretty happy with that," Hayward told the official Pro League website.
"They got a few chances no doubt, but I think we are now just going to get ready for next week in the Finals."
Kookaburras coach Colin Batch said: "I felt we coped with the two-hour delay really well.
"It was a very sharp warm-up, not as long as what we'd normally have, but we started the game pretty well, had a very good first half and established a winning lead at half time.
"The game was decided on penalty corners. We put four through and that was a decisive part of the game."
The result means Australia will finish at least four points clear of second place (currently Belgium) with their Grand Final semi-final opponents still to be confirmed.