Kookaburras beat France in World League

The Kookaburras have beaten France 3-2 to in their opening game of the World League hockey semi-finals in South Africa.

The Australian men's hockey team have comeback from two goals down to beat France 3-2 to begin their World League semi-finals campaign.

An upset by world No.17 France loomed when they scored twice from penalty corners early in the match in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.

Australia responded in the 18th minute when Jake Whetton flicked in a Mark Knowles tomahawk.

The Kookaburras continued to trail with less than 10 minutes to go before Josh Pollard equalised with a shot into the right-hand corner of the goal from the far left of the circle.

Captain Knowles completed the comeback by scoring late from a penalty stroke.

Coach Colin Batch said world No.2 Australia would learn from their slow start.

"There are no easy games," Batch said.

"We were a bit slow to start, they took advantage of us having too many players forward and they were very good on the defensive."

The Kookaburras next play Spain on Thursday before matches against New Zealand and Japan ahead of a possible quarter-finals berth.


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Source: AAP



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