Kookaburras White claims third victory and series in the Fortescue Challenge

The Kookaburras White side has made it three wins from three matches over Kookaburras Green in the Fortescue Challenge at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, claiming a 6-4 victory in a high-scoring contest.

White opened the scoring early in the first quarter through Welch, with Welch receiving a pass in the circle and shooting for goal, with Durst saving the shot but the ball continued to roll into goal to give the White side the early lead.

White made it 2-0 shortly after – a penalty corner earned by Anderson off the Green defender’s foot rocketed into the back of the net by Hayward to give the White side breathing space.

Green replied with a score of their own late in the first quarter, with new Kookaburra Ky Willot finding the ball and goal after a pass from Harvie threaded through the defenders.

Green levelled the scores early in the second quarter through a steal and pass from Matthew Lewis into the circle finding Ephraums who scored through the legs of Rennie.

White quickly replied to make it 3-2, with Marais stealing the ball off the Green defence to tomahawk towards goal and finding the score and the lead for White.

WA’s Jake Harvie extended the White side’s lead to 4-2, with Anderson sending the ball into the circle which ricochets off the Green defenders stick, with Harvie deflecting to goal and scoring.

White again appliedthe attacking pressure in the third quarter, earning multiple penalty corners with Hayward and Welch the beneficiaries to take the score to 6-3 in White’s favour.

Green eventually found a response to White’s insurmountable pressure, with WA young-gun Max Baynam sending the ball into the circle to find Busiko who scores to bring the score to 6-4 in White’s favour.

Both sides tussled until the final buzzer, with White the victor’s in a 6-4 performance and three-nil series sweep.