Australia leads hockey

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 18

Australia leads hockey

NZPA Montreal Australia, with four points for two wins. are top of pool A after the second day of the 13-day Olympic hockey tournament. The Australians beat Malaysia 2-0 on Monday and coasted to a 3-0 win os er the twelfth seed, Canada, yesterday. Top-seeded India. the World Cup champions and former Olympic gold medallists. suffered a shock 3-1 defeat by the Netherlands and are now second to Australia, with two points for victory over Argentina, and one defeat. The Australians led 2-0 at lialf-time yesterday and would have won by a greater margin but for some puzzling decisions bv the Egyptian referee <Mr M. Gomaa which appeared to deprivt , them of two more goals. The Egyptian official dealt I

jseverely with the Australians and in the final minutes called Greg Browning out for a reprimand after words 'were exchanged. The Canadians were full of enthusiasm but lacked Australia’s stick-work and genleral ball control. In the first half. Terry' Walsh (W.A.* and Ron Riley N.S.W.) scored quick followup goals. ; Five minutes into the Second spell David Bell W.A.I slammed home a penilty to put Australia further ■ ahead. I After a rest day today, the ■ Australians face up to their I first hard match of the tournament against India tomorrow.

India’s loss to the Nether'ands was a real shock. No earn has ever before scored hree goals against the team n Olvmpic competition. India was awarded three >enalty comers in the last 20 ninutes but Sikking, the

Dutch goal-keeper, saved two jf them and Aslam shot wide two minutes from time. As with the earlier Pakistan-Spain game, the umpires handed out many cards for foul play. The Indians suffered the same indignity as experienced by Pakistan in the morning byhaving a player, Surjit Singh, sent off. Pakistan, the 1968 gold medallists and one of the favourites, was held to a 2-2 draw bv the European champions, Spain, in their second match. Spain went ahead 2-1 eight minutes from time but Pakistan rallied well and avoided defeat when Munawar converted a long comer three minutes later. At the time Pakistan was playing a man short. Its lefthalf. Iftikhar, was under temporary suspension for a foul on a Spanish player. Munawar himself had been given a i temporary suspension (yellow!

card) at the start of the second half. New Zealand’s hockey team will play only four matches in its pool at the Olympics following the withdrawal of Kenya. All matches against Kenya were cancelled yesterday when tile African” hockey side failed to show for its first scheduled game of the tournament against West Germany.

The German squad was on tile field dressed to plav at midday and the umpire was 'ready to officiate. One minute after the game was timed to start it was cancelled because of the Kenyans nonappearance.

New Zealand was down to play Kenya on Friday afternoon but will now have a rest day' instead.

The Kiwis drew their opening match, against West Germany, on Monday, and play Spain today, Belgium tomorrow and Pakistan on i Saturday,