Australia recover from poor start

Hockey

Australia maintained their unbeaten record in the Champions Trophy here last night when they beat the Dutch 1-0 in a poor game in torrential rain, writes Bill Colwill in Berlin.

In the opening exchanges the Dutch made light of the absence of their injured captain Marc Delissen who they missed so much when the Germans destroyed them 3-0 on Sunday. They took the game to the Australians who looked distinctly unhappy in the conditions.

With Jacques Brinkman dominating the midfield, Australia's attack was restricted to isolated raids down the wings without really worrying the Dutch defence.

The half ended with Lee Bodimeade outpacing the Dutch defence to set up a good chance for Paul Lewis while the Dutch claimed their only penalty corner of the half when Remco van Wijk was crudely brought down. Taco van den Honert's drag was well saved by Damon Diletti in the Australian goal.

Australia, making a series of substitutions, took over in the second half, creating all sorts of problems in the Dutch defence with only a series of daring saves from Ronald Jansen keeping the Australians at bay as first Paul Lewis and then Mark Hager peppered the Dutch goal.

Jansen was off his line to block Matthew Smith and then saw Lewis shoot over the bar before, in the 57th minute, Darren Duff made ground down the right wing to cross for Smith to score. Australia might have had a second in the final minute but for another Jansen save.