Kiwis Strike Early But Kookaburras Have The Last Laugh
Sun Herald
Sunday July 28, 2002
AUSTRALIA 6
NEW ZEALAND 1
IT was hard to know who celebrated louder giant New Zealander Hayden Shaw or a compatriot perched in the press box high above the Belle Vue pitch.
With a stick custom-made in Pakistan for the task, the 194cm fullback crunched the first goal of the tournament to send New Zealand to a shock 1-0 lead against Australia last night.
As the ball blazed past Australian goalkeeper Mark Hickman, the excitable scribe leapt from his seat with a bloodcurdling ``Yesssss" as Shaw ran towards the sideline, stick aloft, after a booming penalty corner flick in the 18th minute of a match the Kiwis were not expected to win.
The Bledisloe Cup it was not, but any trans-Tasman encounter even one between teams ranked two and nine in the world holds a special place for both nations.
The pity for the men in black who are coached by Kevin Towns and captained by his son, Simon is that Australia hit back a minute later.
NSW striker Matthew Smith found himself unmarked at the top of the circle and cracked the ball past the goalkeeper.
From there on, the Kookaburras gathered pace, winning 6-1 but paying a high price.
Captain Paul Gaudoin strained his left quadriceps after a clash in the circle in the first minute of the second half and is unlikely to play in match against South Africa tonight.
It was scrawny South Australian Craig Victory, who led the way last night, proving too slippery for the all-black defence.
He combined with Sydney duo Smith and Michael McCann in a series of raids.
Australia's second goal, in the 32nd minute, came after Smith stormed the circle from the right flank and cracked the ball across goal, where Victory knocked it high into the net.
Australia led 2-1 at the break.
Striker Troy Elder grabbed a goal double in the second term. While Shaw had taken the high road into the net, Elder took the low one to score the first of his pair.
Victory grabbed his second goal from a deflection before Brent Livermore completed the scoring.
``Things are clicking together, which is great," Kookaburras coach Barry Dancer said. ``We are starting to gel really well up the front."
© 2002 Sun Herald