Australia — There were goals aplenty in the international debut on Thursday of nine-a-side field hockey in Perth, Australia, where New Zealand thrashed India 6-3 in the men's matches.
The first night of the innovative four-day International Super Series, which includes a number of other trial rules such as 15-minute halves and wider goals to increase spectator appeal, produced entertaining and attacking hockey.There was only one scoreless game in the four matches, with 21 goals scored in just 120 minutes of hockey.
However, the new format didn't agree with India's men, who paid the price for a sluggish start when they conceded the opening three goals to New Zealand in quick succession en route to a heavy defeat.
Although Danish Mujtaba pulled one back in the 12th minute, the 2010 Commonwealth Games silver medallists were down 4-1 at the break after New Zealand's Joel Baker scored from a long corner just seconds before half-time.
Sardar Singh produced a fine reverse stick shot on the run to make it 4-2 in the 17th minute, and the margin was down to one goal when Ravi Pal scored in the 24th minute.
However, Stephen Jenness's second goal 60 seconds later made it 5-3 and he completed a hat-trick as the final siren sounded.
The first international sides to taste the new format of the game were the Indian and Malaysian women, and it was the Indians that were too good, winning 3-1 on the back of goals by Ritu Rani, P Sushila Chanu and Vandana Katariya.
In the other men's match, Australia beat Pakistan 3-2.
All five goals were scored in a nine-minute burst in the first-half, Jamie Dwyer's superb goal from just inside the circle in the 15th minute ultimately proving the winner.
The Pakistanis clearly felt they were on the wrong end of the umpiring as they searched for an equaliser in the second half, making several vocal complaints to the officials.
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