Kookaburras and next-gen stars shine in Fortescue Challenge

Some of Australia’s and WA’s most elite hockey talent hit the field for the Kookaburras in the first match of the Fortescue Challenge – an intra-squad series that pits team ‘Green’ against team ‘White, with White going home with a 6-4 victory.

The two sides comprised of current Kookaburras squad members, as well as some of WA’s elite-level junior talent, with a hard-fought match showcasing a bright future for hockey in Australia.

The Green side opened the scoring early in the match, with attacking stalwart Blake Govers finding the back off the net after a penalty corner mis-trap and deflection into goal.

A steal and pass from Josh Beltz resulted in a White counter-attack, with new Kookaburra Craig Marais the beneficiary, taking the score to 1-1.

WA’s newest Kookaburra, James Collins, provided an outstanding run down the right-hand side with a strong pass to Govers in the circle resulting in Green’s second goal for the match and the lead.

A strong attacking period from White looked to provide a score but goalkeeper Johan Durst provided a rock in the net.

White eventually cracked through the defensive pressure – Hayward scoring off a penalty corner with six minutes to go to bring the score to 2-2.

Green applied the pressure and were denied by Charter three times to eventually find a goal and the lead right before the halftime buzzer.

Again, the score reached a deadlock early in the third – White’s Jack Welch scoring off a deflection to bring the score to 3-3.

The pressure from the Green team once again proved too strong, with a Blake Govers rocket deflecting off Charter and rolling into the goal.

A quick reply from White’s Jeremy Hayward levelled the scores at 4-4 right before three quarter time to provide an exciting finish for fans at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University.

Both teams went back and forth early in the fourth quarter, with White finding the back of the net eventually with Anderson’s pass finding Ogilvie and the White’s fifth goal.

The White team put the nail in the coffin late in the final quarter, with Anderson’s quick play and strike finding the goal to lead the White’s to a 6-4 victory.

The Fortescue Challenge continues at Perth Hockey Stadium on Tuesday 15 and Friday 18 March – more here.

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