Although they’re unbeaten and coming off a 5-0 victory, Orange’s Edwina Bone and her Hockeyroos must lift again in Monday night’s Commonwealth Games blockbuster against New Zealand, a game that will decide which of the two teams tops their pool.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Hockeyroos thumped minnows Ghana 5-0 on Saturday night to back up their 1-0 win over Canada, but the victory came at the expense of a side the Black Sticks put 12 past just a day early and sat deep in defence all night.
Australia left plenty to be desired at the set piece too, creating a whopping 17 penalty corners and only converting two of them.
But the victory still puts Bone and her Hockeyroos in the box seat after New Zealand was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Canada on Sunday, after which Black Sticks coach Mark Hager suggested his side may have had its mind on the Australian match-up.
Bone, who scored a rare goal in the win over Ghana, said her side was still pleased with the victory but acknowledged they’ll need to address their set piece before facing the Black Sticks.
“We were holding possession well, trying to draw (Ghana) out and create space for our strikers up front,” Bone told AAP.
“We got in the circle, it's just that last finishing play that we need to pick it up.”
Bone opened the scoring in the first minute of the game, finding herself open close to goal and making no mistake with her shot.
Jodie Kenny extended the Australians’ lead to two five minutes later with a powerful flick, a goal that officially makes her the highest-scoring Hockeyroo in Commonwealth Games history.
She overtook Alyson Anna’s record of 11, set back in 1998.
After Jane Claxton found the back of the net in the 16th minute to push the Hockeyroos 3-0 ahead, a bloodbath like the Kiwis produced looked likely.
But Ghana remained stoic and although the Hockeyroos had plenty of chances they could only convert two more.
Kenny, the in-form offensive Hockeyroos’ option, scored her second at the 29-minute mark, it came from strong flick from a penalty corner.
Australia scored 11 minutes later through Brooke Peris, who found herself unmarked in front of goal on the run in the 40th minute.
She slotted the chance to give her side a five-goal buffer.
Emily Hurtz and Madi Ratcliffe both loomed as dangerous attacking options but neither could find the back of the net.
Renee Taylor once again proved to be a strong defensive option and was able to push forward and create a number of scoring chances.
The Hockeyroos face New Zealand on Monday night from 9.30pm.
