Hockeyroos finish top of group A

The Australian Women's hockey team completed its final group match today, accounting for South Africa 3-0 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre - finishing unconquered on top of their pool.

An early goal by Suzie Faulkner set the tone of the match for the Hockeyroos, while Nicole Arrold and Angie Skirving slotted goals in the final 20 minutes from penalty corners to ensure the win.

Wasted delivery and failure to convert more of their opportunities cost the home side a far more crushing win, but the signs were still impressive.

Australia completed their pool matches with four successive wins, ensuring them much sought-after confidence entering the semi final stages, as they ultimately look to emulate their Kuala Lumpur 1998 gold medal success, prior to their disappointing bronze in Manchester 2002.

The Hockeyroos will play England on Thursday in the semi final, while the gold and bronze medal matches will be played on Saturday.

South Africa finished equal third in group A with one win and a draw, while the winner of tonight's match between Malaysia and India will progress to play New Zealand in the semi final.

A draw for Malaysia is sufficient enough for them to progress.

Contrary to the rankings, the visitors worked hard throughout the first half to match the world no2 Hockeyroos.

Faulkner, top goal-scorer in the 2005 Domestic Australian Hockey League, put the home side on the front foot after only 13 minutes when she pounced on Hudson's deflected shot, getting her stick to the ball, which rolled in for the opening goal.

South Africa were lucky not to be 2-0 down at the half when 19-year-old Kate Hollywood slammed the ball into the goal, only for the umpires to disallow it after deciding the ball had been lifted before the goal was scored.

The visitors worked hard to keep Australia at bay in the second half, but their defence could only hold firm for so long as the midfield took control and the shots rained.

After 50 minutes, Arrold exposed the defensive line to propel the Hockeyroos to a 2-0 when she slammed a deflection off the post into the right of the goal.

Skirving ensured the result was unambiguous when her classic drag-flick from a penalty corner found its way into the top left of the goal for Australia's third inside the final eight minutes.

Hockeyroos' coach Frank Murray was sceptical of his team's performance and credited the visitors.

"We wasted the ball and didn't make the most of our opportunities," Murray said.

"South Africa, to their credit, worked hard and showed they can match it at this level," he said.

"I thought after half time we got on top in our midfield but wasted it."

"There's a fair bit there we can work on."

The only other completed match today saw a top-of-the-table group B clash, with New Zealand triumphing over England 4-0 to secure top spot after the pool matches.

Barbados will be searching for their first points of the tournament when they clash with fourth-placed Scotland later in the evening.

Australia 3 (Suzie Faulkner FG 13m, Nicole Arrold PC 50m, Angie Skirving PC 62m)
South Africa 0
Women's Group A match. 21/03/2006. State Netball and Hockey Centre.

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