Hockey: Australia hang on to retain world title

By Bill Colwill in Utrecht

AUSTRALIA, the World Champions, retained their title yesterday in the FC Utrecht stadium before Crown Prince Willem Alexander and 15,000 enthusiastic supporters.

In a game which started dramatically - with Ellen Dubbeldam-Kuipers opening the scoring for the Netherlands in the 46th second - the champions clawed their way back into the game with Alyson Annan equalising in the 22nd minute. Within a minute the Australians were in the lead through Julie Towers following up at a penalty corner. Kuipers had a wonderful opportunity to level for the Dutch on the interval but shot over the bar.

In a high-class second half of attacking hockey there were chances for both sides before, in the 56th minute, Bianca Langham put Australia further ahead. Roared on by their fanatical supporters, the Netherlands came back with Julie Deiters closing the gap with eight minutes remaining to create a grand finale in which the Australians hung on for their second successive World title.

Germany came from behind to beat Argentina 3-2 to take the bronze medal, the winning goal coming in the 62nd minute from Inga Moller after a powerful run from Natascha Keller. Vanina Oneto had scored both goals for Argentina at penalty corners.

England women's interest in the championship ended on Saturday when they beat Scotland 2-0 with first half goals from Jane Sixsmith and Jane Smith, to finish in 9th position. The men, who beat Canada 2-1 on Saturday thanks to two penalty corner conversions from Calum Giles and therefore qualified for the elite Champions Trophy tournament to be held in Lahore at the end of October, play Pakistan today in the 5th/6th place game.