Holland drub Oz 6-2 to win Azlan Shah Cup, India claim bronze

Kuala Lumpur, June 25 (UNI) In a lopsided affair, Holland thrashed Olympic champions Australia 6-2 to win their first Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey title here at the Bukit Jalil stadium today.

India also redeemed themselves as they pipped New Zealand 3-2 in the third place play off thus ending a six-year medal drought in the tournament.

However, it was the final match that proved to be an anti-climax with Holland scoring almost at will even as the Oz caved in.

A shocked Australian defence had no answer to the fluency of the Dutch forward line who struck twice in the first half and then banged in another four in the second session.

Defending champions Australia came into the final quite confident of securing the title but were beaten by a superior team.

For Holland were Roderick Weustoph scored a Hat-trick(7th, 47th, 66th) while Taeke Taekema (23rd), Teun de Nooijer (42nd), and Ronald Brouwer (52nd) scored one goal each.

For Australia, Matt Naylor (60th) and Grant Schubert (68th) reduced the margin.

Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans said that it is not everyday one can beat the Aussie side by half a dozen goals.

''But we are still clear that our objective was not to win the tournament but to keep improving and look at the World Cup in September,'' he said.

''It is a bonus of sorts that we have won and quite convincingly.'' ''I am happy with the way my forwardline created chances and we now look forward to the World Cup,'' he added.

Pick of the pack, however, was Teun de Nooijer who added a lot of sharpness in the Dutch frontline creating some superb chances in the Australian striking circle. Nooijer was adjudged the Man of the Final.

For Holland it was a triple delight at the Azlan Shah finals.

Apart from convincingly beating Australia, they also took the Man of the Tournament which went to Roderick Weustoph. The Dutch striker also bagged the award for highest goal scorer in the tournament with four goals.

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