Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010: Australia’s defeat to Black Sticks in Women’s Hockey
Australia got the Gold medal in women’s hockey competition at Commonwealth games on Wednesday in New Delhi. Australia had a dramatic and splendid plenty strokes victory over New Zealand.
The match was tied at 2-2 at the end of normal time and extra time was forced by New Zealand owing to a last gasp penalty corner flick from Clarissa ESHUIS. Katie Glynn’s penalty effort was beautifully saved by Australian goal keeper Rachael Lynch. Krystal
Forgesson then fired off the target to give Australia their Gold medal. It was Australia’s second consecutive Gold medal In Commonwealth Games. It was a fantastic and happiest moment for Australian coach, Frank Murray who retires from the role on a high. The
Australian nation is now looking forward to the Thursday’s Gold medal match of Men’s hockey. All Australians are hoping that it will be a double success when Men’s hockey team beat host nation India in the final.
Before this match on the same day, England secured the third position in the tournament and won a Bronze medal by defeating South Africa by 1-0. In the first half, 19-year-old Georgie TWIGG scored a crucial goal winning third Bronze medal for England of
the year 2010 following the third place achievement at ABN AMRO Champions Trophy (Nottingham) and the BDO FIH World Cup (Rosario, Argentina).
Getting back to the final, Australia defeated New Zealand 4-2 on penalty strokes after 2-2 draw at the end of normal time, thus winning back to back Commonwealth Gold medals. Jessica Nicole Arrold (AUS) who was Melbourne 2006 gold medallist successfully
made a decisive penalty stroke to win Gold, hit a penalty corner shot low into the goal. This wonderful shot gave Aussies a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of first half.
Samantha Harrison of New Zealand brought her team back into the game after the break when she struck a penalty corner in on the right post to equalise the score sheet at 1-1 in 48th minute. Ashleigh Nelson (AUS) responded with great skill by netting
while lying on the floor in 59th minute. It was again a penalty corner that restored Australians lead to 2-1. Clarissa Eshuis (NZL) got the game in extra time. She raised the score sheet to 2-2 by successful conversion of her penalty corner in the
final minute of regulation time.
There were two periods of extra time and both the teams had the chances and golden opportunities but none could find the Golden goal. The pressure to convert every stroke increased on New Zealand as only the captain Madonna Blyth of Australia missed her
stroke when striking wide for Australians. But Aussie goal keeper Rachael Lynch (AUS) made a successful save from Katie Glynn of New Zealand. It was a disappointment for Glynn’s team and their confidence suddenly dropped. Krystal Forgesson (NZL) hit her shot
wide giving the Gold medal to Australia and Australians overwhelmed with joy and excitement.
In the match between South Africa and England, England very easily saw off South Africa and got Third place in the competition. Georgie TWIGG's 13th-minute goal secured the bronze medal for England at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Wednesday.
England’s Crista Cullen showed some great build-up play before the goal. Her cross into the area was pushed into the net by TWIGG. For much of the remaining time, South Africa remained dominant and got a lot of penalty corner opportunities but England’s
goal keeper Beth Storry kept her side on the way for winning the third place by deflecting every shot of the opponent. England won the Bronze medal in 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth games. This year, it was England’s third Bronze medal as they also took it in
this year’s World Cup and Champions Trophy.
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