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2002 Commonwealth Games

by Claire Mitchell-Taverner.

Score: Australia 5 defeated New Zealand 2 (Half time 4-0)

Goal Scorers:

Australia: T. Elder FG 20m, J. Dwyer FG 25m 32m 49m, C. Victory PC 28m

New Zealand: P. Burrows 43 FG, H. Shaw PS 66m


The Australian Men?s Hockey Team, the Kookaburras, successfully defended its Commonwealth Games title in Manchester overnight. The Kookaburras, led by captain Paul Gaudoin in his 200th match for Australia, dominated proceedings to defeat New Zealand by five goals to two.


Brent Livermore was influential in the midfield and often set the tone for Australia, but it was Troy Elder who struck first for the Kookaburras after a lightning run by Matthew Smith on the left wing. The ball fell for Michael McCann whose shot on goal was saved, Elder jumping on the rebound to open the scoring for Australia with a hit from the top of the circle.


After announcing that he would retire after the Commonwealth Games, Matthew Smith was dynamic up front in his last international match for the Kookaburras, and he combined well with fellow striker Jamie Dwyer who scored twice in the first half and finished with a hat-trick.


Jamie Dwyer scored his first goal in the 25th minute before Craig Victory converted a well rehearsed penalty corner deflection in the 28th minute to take the Kookaburras to a three nil lead. Dwyer was on target again four minutes later to ensure that the Kookaburras went into the break with a convincing four goal advantage.


In the second half Phillip Burrows scored for New Zealand in the 43rd minute when he pushed the ball into the net from the right of the circle to take the score to 4-1, but Dwyer scored his third goal six minutes later to make it 5-1, and all but crush the hopes of the New Zealander team that had so convincingly beaten Pakistan in the semi final.


Hayden Shaw, the tournament?s highest goal scorer, sealed New Zealand?s second goal from a penalty stroke late in the game to make it 5-2 and take his personal tally to 13 goals for the tournament, but it would not be enough for his team that would have to be happy with the silver medal.


In the playoff for bronze, Pakistan was too good for South Africa beating that team by ten goals to two. Pakistan defender Sohail Abbas scored an amazing five penalty corner goals from five attempts, all from powerful drag flicks at the top of the circle.

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