Both incidents of appeal centred around the awarding of penalty corners or lack thereof. In the first instant the South Africans believed they should have been awarded a penalty corner which was ultimately turned down, and the second, the Australians protested that a penalty was awarded, with 40 seconds on the clock. Again, no penalty corner was adjudicated.
Under the rules of hockey a bully (hockey 1, hockey 2, hockey 3) is ruled by the umpire when circumstances reveal there is no other course due to the nature of the play. In the first instance, the umpire had not ruled a penalty corner and in the second the umpire was redirected with a different decision by the video ref.
But it was the Kookabuarra's day, this their first outing for the London Olympic crown and they looked sharp and determined. Leading 2-0 at half time, it was obvious even to the uninitiated, that there was only one side playing 'complete' hockey whereas the other was there to make up the numbers.
Goals from Jamie Dwyer (penalty stoke) and Matthew Butturini after a brilliant back line ploy from Dwyer gave the Kookaburras a sensible lead and after the break the flood gates opened with four more.
Chris Ciriello displayed the penalty corner prowess of the team, followed by another Dwyer penalty corner tap, then Dwyer was tripped by the opposing goalkeeper and he made no mistake of the subsequent stroke and finally Glen Turner once again proved his position snatching the sixth with a low flick from the right.
The Kookaburras next game is against Spain on Friday who they met and defeated in the last Champions Trophy, but a very classy outfit. Russell Ford came into the side to replace the injured Des Abbott who was unable to travel to London.
The Kookaburras: Nathan Burgers(QLD), Matthew Butturini (NSW), Joel Carroll (NT), Chris Ciriello (VIC), Tim Deavin (TAS), Liam De Young (QLD), Jamie Dwyer (QLD), Matt Gohdes (QLD), Kieran Govers (NSW), Fergus Kavanagh (WA), Mark Knowles (QLD), Eddie Ockenden(TAS), Simon Orchard (NSW), Matthew Swann (QLD), Glenn Turner(ACT), Russell Ford (VIC)
Hockeyroos lost zip
In complete contrast to the men, the Australian women's hockey tea, the Hockeyroos lost to New Zealand 0-1 in their opening Olympic match on Sunday.
The Hockeyroos zip had somehow been left in the Olympic Village well and truly hidden in their shoe cupboards. Very little of what they did had that well recognised Hockeyroo exactness.
The Kiwis, the Black Sticks, on the other hand had polished their Olympic shoes and they were shinning with sharp passes, brilliant tackles, never say die defence and a willingness of spirit that left their opponents a lacking hockey composure.
They have a tough row to hoe now to qualify for a semi-final berth. They play Germany next. But they look great – see their photos: (www.hockey.org.au)