Govers hat-trick sparks Kookaburras comeback win
Blake Govers has fired a stunning match-saving hat-trick as Australia fought back to secure a remarkable Pro League victory over England in London.
The Kookaburras, who had seven penalty corners in the first half, were given a flying start when Victorian Cooper Burns showed quick hands in the circle to net in the fourth minute.
England were level nine minutes later when Zach Wallace scored via a scrappy field goal before home debutant Henry Croft put them ahead in the second quarter.
And when Sam Hooper made it 3-1 just before halftime with a fierce drag flick, the match certainly looked to be going the hosts' way.
But the final quarter became the Govers show in a dazzling two-minute spell, as the 28-year-old Wollongong star pulled one back for the Kookaburras with a 39th-minute drag flick, before equalising after blasting home from a penalty corner.
Govers then completed the fightback with a diving deflection to wrap-up a fine win for the men in gold, which ensured they remain unbeaten in the European Pro League competition.
It completed a memorable day for Tasmania's Jack Welch, who brought up his 50th Kookaburras cap.
But also for his teammate Davis Atkin, one of Australia's openly gay athletes, as the Kookaburras donned rainbow socks on a day dedicated to celebrating diversity and inclusion.
"I said to the boys this morning that I just really appreciate everyone being as inclusive as they are, and this was as simple as wearing socks, but I'm able to flourish as much as I can," Atkin said.
"It's hard to describe the feeling. I had this nervous, anxious feeling of butterflies before the match, that this really means something to me. It means something to so many people."
Player-of-the-match Govers admitted England were a difficult nut to crack.
"England at home is always a tough match, they really stuck it to us in the first half," Govers told 7plus.
"We were lucky to bounce back and get those goals in the second half. They were team goals. Someone has to get the corners, and I'm just on the back end of great team play, but very happy to have done the job and gotten those in."
The Kookaburras can defend their title if they win their remaining three matches against England and Germany, with game two against England also tonight in London.
It was a tougher day for Australia's women, however, who suffered a tough 4-0 defeat to Germany in their penultimate Pro League match in Berlin.
The Hockeyroos, who also wore rainbow socks in support of inclusion and visibility in sport, were confident following a victory over England but they were unable to contain the hosts who lifted themselves off the bottom of the table thanks to goals from Sara Strauss, Lynn Krings, Sophia Schwabe and Jette Fleschutz.
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