2nd Hockey Test: Australia ride on Milton hat-trick to drub South Korea 5-2

The Kookaburras were clearly hurt after their 1-4 penalty shootout defeat to South Korea in the first hockey Test. And they showed they had a point to prove when they thumped South Korea 5-2 in the second hockey Test at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth.

The green-and-gold brigade rode on a brilliant hat-trick by local boy Trent Milton to ride roughshod over the Asian giants.

But it was the South Koreans who seemed to wrest the initiative with a third minute goal by Yoon Sung Hoon.

The Koreans held on to the lead for the first quarter before Trent Milton got into the act. Milton converted a penalty corner in the 18^th minute.

Four minutes later, he scored a field goal to put the Aussies ahead after umpire Tim Pullman played the advantage.

South Korea were back in the contest when Nam Hyun Woo fired a penalty corner in the 26^th minute to level the score.

Australia refused to be perturbed by the Korean equalizer as they struck twice close to the first half hooter.

Australia took control of the proceedings, as Jake Whetton made it 3-2 in the 34^th minute before Josh Miller made the scoreline 4-2 in the final minute of the first half.

South Korea had their backs to the wall and needed to rebound. But the Kookaburras, who blooded three new faces – Tyler Lovell, Jeremy Edwards and Tom Wickham, maintained more possession and did not allow the visitors long bouts of passing play.

An early second half goal eluded the Koreans and frustration seemed to creep in, as their game turned rugged.

Trent Milton compounded their woes, scoring the fifth goal in the 52^nd minute – completing a superb hat-trick in the process.

It may be worth recalling that the Perth Hockey Stadium had recently hosted the four-match Test series between the South Korea and Australian women.

The series ended with both team sharing the honours winning two matches apiece.

The Hockeyroos won the opening Test 4-2 before the South Koreans won the second Test 2-1.

Australia clinched the third Test 6-0 before South Korea won the final Test 3-1.

South Korean men will travel to New Zealand later this month to play in a six-match Test series beginning May 14.

The series will run till May 22.

The six-match Test series will be the New Zealand team’s final preparatory tournament before the FIH Hockey World League semifinals to be held in June this year.