Win keeps Australia’s goals alive

THE Kookaburras have bounced back to their best form with an important 4-2 win over Germany at the FIH Pro League in Hobart.

Second-half goals to Tom Wickham and Dylan Wotherspoon sealed yesterday afternoon’s victory after the sides had been locked at 2-2 after rookie Jacob Anderson’s firsthalf double.

Having lost and drawn last weekend against World Cup finalists Belgium and the Netherlands, Australia needed the three points to keep in touch with early competition leaders Great Britain.

“It’s good to get two goals and we turned it around from last weekend,” said player of the match Anderson in just his seventh outing for the home team.

The Germans, playing their first match in this new international tournament, tired late in the game and had a goal disallowed that would have made it 3-3.

From then on, the Australians controlled the midfield and had multiple opportunities.

Germany pulled their goalkeeper when Wotherspoon scored with 10 minutes go to but Australia held firm.

“We’re not really happy but, all in all, we were very good defensively in the first half,” said captain Mats Grambusch.

Australia made half-adozen changes from last weekend, giving a first Test cap to NSW midfielder Jack Hayes.

The Germans looked sharp from the outset. Their pressure brought the first goal on five minutes when Christopher Ruhr hammered a diagonal cross to Florian Fuchs at the left post.

The Kookaburras levelled on 11 minutes when Anderson flicked home from close range.

Australia took the lead through Anderson on 21 minutes but the Germans equalised within a minute from a penalty corner.

That set up the second half, in which goalkeeper Andrew Charter made two key saves for Australia.

Australia next host Great Britain on Saturday in Perth while Germany play in New Zealand on Friday.

The top four teams play finals in June in Holland.