[img_assist|nid=3945|title=Champions|desc=Netherlands win the Investec London Cup 2012 with a 4-1 victory over Australia – Ady Kerry|link=node|align=right|width=180|height=98]
NETHERLANDS 4 (1)
Carlien Dirkse van de Heuvel 28 (F)
Maartje Paumen 44,56 (PC,PC)
Kelly Jonker 46 (F)
AUSTRALIA 1 (0)
Georgia Nanscawen 47 (F)
The Netherlands have won the Investec London Cup hockey with a 4-1 victory over Australia. Germany took the bronze medal defeating South Africa 6-2.
For more pictures see the gallery.
Australia and the Netherlands produced a robust final with no quarter asked or given. In the end it was lethal Dutch corners and more clinical finishing that decided the game.
In the first half Hope Munro smashed one into the bar and Anna Flanagan put a corner over for the Hockeyroos, but it was the world’s number one side who took a lead into the break through Carlien Dirkse van de Heuvel, set up by Caia van Maasakker in front of goal
Australia started the second half as they did the first – scrapping for everything and denying the Dutch time on the ball to establish their pattern.
But the Dutch broke the dam when Maartje Paumen buried a corner and Kelly Jonker a near-post open play goal. Georgia Nanscawen gave Australia some hope at 3-1, but another trademark, high and fast Paumen corner ensured yet another gold medal to the Netherlands.
[img_assist|nid=3947|title=Bronze|desc=South Africa’s Pietie Coetzee (left) battles with Germany’s Mandy Haase – Action Images|link=none|align=left|width=180|height=130]
SOUTH AFRICA 2 (1)
Dirkie Chamberlain 11 (F)
Pietie Coetzee 67 (F)
GERMANY 6 (2)
Natascha Keller 9 (PC)
Kristina Hillman 18 (F)
Julia Muller 40 (PC)
Janine Beermann 47,58 (F,F) Katharina Otte 62 (F)
In the battle for bronze, Germany scored through Natascha
Keller, Kristina Hillman, Julia Muller, Janine Beermann (2) and Katharina Otte while Dirkie Chamberlain and Pietie Coetzee got on the scoresheet for South Africa.
The half-time score was 2-1 to Germany with their successes due to a
Keller penalty corner and Hillman’s field goal. SA scored in between in
this 10-minute period when Chamberlain pounced on Coetzee’s
initial strike.
[img_assist|nid=3948|title=Player of the tournament|desc=Marsha Marescia Investec London Cup player of the tournament – Action Images|link=node|align=right|width=180|height=116]While SA continued to conjure up a steady supply of opportunities
after the changeover they only had world record holder Coetzee’s 241st
goal in 245 Test matches to show for it while Germany got four goals in a
19-minute period through Muller’s penalty corner and field goals from Beermann (2) and Otte.
South Africa captain Marsha Marescia was named player of the tournament.
