Hockey: Australians set Games scoring record

MANCHESTER - Australia, the reigning Olympic, World Cup and Commonwealth women's hockey champions, set a Commonwealth Games scoring record by thrashing Malaysia 18-0 in their final pool match on Monday.

The previous Games record was set by New Zealand who defeated Namibia 15-1 in Kuala Lumpur four years ago.

The world women's record score was set in 1923 when England defeated France 23-0 at Richmond. Australia's previous biggest win was 12-0, against Fiji in 1979 and Jamaica at the last Commonwealth Games.

Australia's win means they top their pool and go straight into Thursday's semifinals while pointless Malaysia, late replacements for Jamaica, have only one more match in their bid to avoid the wooden spoon.

It took Australia six minutes to open the scoring but they led Malaysia 8-0 by halftime. Ngaire Smith, joint top scorer among the women, scored four, while both Louise Dobson and Nikki Hudson got hat-tricks.

In the second match of group A, South Africa's Pietie Coetzee, who is the joint top-scorer with Smith, took her personal tournament tally to six with two goals in her side's 4-1 victory over Scotland.

The win meant South Africa finished second in their group, behind Australia, and will now meet India for a place in the semi-finals.

Coetzee's goals were instrumental in sparking South Africa's comeback from a goal down as they scored three times in four minutes.

In group B New Zealand had to come from behind to beat Canada 3-1, a victory that ensured they topped the group when England could only manage a draw with India.

England will play Scotland, third in group A, for a semi-final place on Wednesday.

- REUTERS

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