Kookaburras Finish Fourth at World Cup

A seven minute purple patch from the Netherlands has consigned the Kookaburras to a fourth place finish at the 2023 FIH World Cup after the Europeans triumphed 3-1 in the bronze medal match in India.

With both teams entering the match after heartbreaking semi final losses, the Kookaburras still had plenty to play for including individual milestones for Jeremy Hayward and Jake Harvie.

Hayward ran out for international match 200 while Harvie was making his 100th Kookaburras appearance.

However, it was not to be for the Australians as the Netherlands struck three times in a match defining third quarter to claim a spot on the podium.

The Kookaburras started brightly enough with NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders Blake Govers and Lachlan Sharp all with chances inside the opening 10 minutes.

But it was Jeremy in his 200th who would break the deadlock and give the Kookaburras the lead with a trademark drag flick from the first penalty corner of the match in the 13th minute.

The goal was Jeremy’s 100th international goal and his 16th in world cups as he became the highest goal scorer of any Australian player in the tournament’s history.

The Kookaburras took their slender lead into half time but were immediately put on the back foot by the Netherlands after the resumption.

The Netherlands earned a string of penalty corners and their persistence was rewarded when Jip Janssen’s drag flick took a cruel deflection off an oncoming Tim Brand on its way into the back of the net giving goalkeeper Andrew Charter no chance.

Two minutes later the Netherlands were ahead when Tim Howard’s attempted clearance out of his defensive circle was intercepted allowing Thierry Brinkman to hit his shot first time past Andrew from close range.

The Dutch captain then capped off a mesmerising period for his team when he scored his second in the 40th minute to double the Netherlands’ advantage.

A yellow card to Thijs van Dam with eight minutes remaining reduced the Netherlands to ten players as the Kookaburras surged forward.

Chasing the game, Head Coach Colin Batch removed Andrew with six minutes to go to give the Kookaburras an extra outfield player, but despite their best efforts it was not to be their night.

The Kookaburras will now return to Australia ahead of home FIH Pro League matches against Argentina and Spain in Hobart from 28 February – 5 March.

Match Details
Kookaburras 1 (Hayward 13’)
Netherlands 3 (Janssen 33’, Brinkman 35’/40’)
@ Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar

Kookaburras: 1.Lachlan Sharp, 2.Tom Craig, 4.Jake Harvie, 5.Tom Wickham, 6.Matthew Dawson, 7.Nathan Ephraums, 10.Josh Beltz, 11.Eddie Ockenden, 12.Jake Whetton, 13.Blake Govers, 16.Tim Howard, 17.Aran Zalewski (c), 22.Flynn Ogilvie, 23.Daniel Beale, 29.Tim Brand, 30.Andrew Charter (gk), 32.Jeremy Hayward
Unused substitute: 8.Johan Durst (gk)