Kookaburra White overpowers Green in last-minute hockey thriller

The Kookaburra White team has claimed two wins from two matches in the Fortescue Challenge at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, with a goal in the dying seconds snatching a 3-2 victory from Kookaburra Green.

Green started strong early on in the match, with a deflection from Govers heading towards goal with Andrew Charter deflecting the ball away for no score.

The tide quickly turned in favour of White, with insurmountable pressure and a steal from Welch finding Marais who rockets a pass to a lively Anderson, deflecting for the first score of the match.

Green’s Tim Howard and James Collins looked lively for the side, with continuous play down the right unable to find a score for Green.

A free hit earned from attacking play by Welch was taken by Beale who sent it straight back to Welch who found the back of the net to claim a 2-0 lead for White.

WA’s Collins provided a lively option in defence for Green – a steal from Collins who quickly passed to Govers ended up in the lap of Ephraums who was able to find goal to bring the score back to 2-1 in White’s favour.

White’s Jacob Anderson provided White with an electrifying period of attacking options early in the second but no team was able to find goal come the half time buzzer.

Green managed to level the scores late in the third quarter – Zalewski’s defensive pressure resulting in a steal at the top of the circle, with Zalewski finding his teammate in Ky Willot who rockets the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

Both teams provided plenty of opportunities up front with White finding the only score through Jeremy Hayward.

With 50 seconds to go in the match, a heroic save from Charter off a White attack found the foot of the Green defence, with Jeremy Hayward capitalising on the opportunity, finding the left hand side of goal to give the White side a 3-2 victory.

The final Fortescue Challenge match at Perth Hockey Stadium on Friday 18 March looks set to provide a scintillating contest after a fiery first two matches of the series – more here.