India though played good hockey, especially in the second half, but the team’s forwards failed to find the elusive goal.
Kieran Govers set the pace for the hosts scoring in the ninth minute off Australia’s first penalty corner. He then went on to add another goal to his and team’s kitty by hitting the last of the four goals in the first half (32nd).
In between Timothy Deavin (21st min) and Russel Ford (25th min) scored one apiece.
Aran Zalewski, who is from Margret River area, a suburb of Burnbury, made his international debut memorable on his home turf, scoring the lone goal of the second half (57th min) for the hosts.
Indians were a bit rusty and slow to begin with, while the Aussies went into the business straight away.
However, the visitors fought back well in the second half when they not only defended well but also came close to scoring on a number of occasions.
Indian defence did well to withstand the continuous pressure from the faster and fitter Australian forwards in the second half.
Ten minutes after Sarwanjit Singh failed to connect a cross from Yuvraj Singh, he once again came close to scoring off his own solo in the 52nd minute. But his diving shot was hair’s breadth away from the right post.
Indians earned two penalty corners in the last 10 minutes of the second half. Sandeep Singh, who returned to field after missing the Super Series Hockey 9s due to injury, took the first one, but his drag flick was stopped by the in-form athletic Tristan Clemons, the Aussie goalie.
HI files appeal
The Indian team management on Monday filed an appeal to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) against the suspensions imposed on five members of the side for their role in the ugly showdown with Pakistani players during a match in Burnbury last week.
Midfielder Gurbaj Singh, forwards Gurvinder Singh Chandi and Tushar Khandkar, assistant coach Jugraj Singh and the team’s exercise physiologist David John, who was the stand-in manager, were handed bans by tournament director Graham Napier for their involvement in the skirmish with Pakistani players in the match.
“As per the norm, we have asked chief coach (Michael) Nobbs and Hockey India CEO Elena Norman, who is along with the team, to file an appeal against the bans to FIH and they have already sent it,” a HI source told PTI.
“The decision (of the tournament director) was completely biased. It is the Pakistani players who started it all. They insitigated our players. The player who hit Gurbaj with the stick went scot free. We feel we have a strong case at hand,” he added.
