Netherlands triumphant in women’s hockey

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 21

Netherlands triumphant in women’s hockey

NZPA-Reuter Amstelveen, Netherlands

Elegant Dutch sweeper Lisanne Lejeune scored twice as world and Olympic hockey champions the Netherlands beat Australia 4-2 to win the women’s Champions Trophy on Saturday. Lejeune hit a penalty in the first half and scored at a short-corner in the second to put the Dutch side at the top of the sixteam tournament table on 10 points with all games completed. But the victory was never easy against a spirited Australian side which at one stage fought back from two goals down to 22.

Sophie von Weiler put the Dutch side ahead in

the eighteenth minute with a superb floated lob over Australian goalkeeper Kathleen Partridge, before Lejeune scored her first to give the Dutch a 2-0 half-time lead. But the Australians pressed hard in the second half and two goals within a minute by Elspeth Clement and tournament top scorer Jackie Pereira brought them back into the match. Then in the fiftieth minute Lejeune, who seems to glide easily around a hockey field while others sprint and scurry, stepped up to fire in at a shortcorner.

The Australian spirit wilted and Helen Van der Ben added a fourth to secure the trophy for the

Netherlands, with Australia taking second place with seven points. The South Koreans, who are emerging as a new power in women’s hockey, secured the bronze medal position with an 8-1 victory over New Zealand. Kye Sook Im hit four goals in the Korean win. Christine Arthur scored New Zealand’s first goal of the tournament but the team has conceded 30 in six matches here. Earlier Michelle Conn grabbed a late goal to beat Britain 1-0 and take fourth place. Conn fired in from close range after a free hit struck a British defender, cruel luck for a British side which dominated most areas of play during the match.