TAMWORTH’S Kate Jenner and her Australian Hockeyroos are through to the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after dispatching rivals England 3-0 in their final preliminary match.
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Two more penalty corner goals from Jodie Kenny, the tournament’s top scorer with nine, and a close range rebound from Emily Smith on her 22nd birthday sealed the win over the world number six side.
The result means Australia will finish top of Pool B with four wins from four matches, 25 goals scored and none conceded.
Irrespective of the results of the remaining matches they will win the pool with the preliminary phase concluding toay.
Australia will face the yet-to-be determined runner-up from the other pool in Friday’s semi-final with South Africa and New Zealand currently leading the way in Pool A.
Twenty six-year-old Queenslander Kenny said: “It was probably not our best game yet; there are a few things we need to tidy up – just ball handling and things like that, but at the end of the day if you cannot play your best game and come out with a three-nil win then that’s pretty positive.”
Explaining the secret of her penalty corner prowess, she said, “I’ve certainly put a lot of hours’ practice over a lot of years.”
It’s a very specific skill and takes a while to learn. I’ve got the body for it.
I’m quite tall, got long levers so it’s a combination of that and the power. I’m just so happy I can put so many away in one tournament, I’m really stoked.
“Hopefully it’s a threat when I stand up there – they’re a bit worried.”
Australian defender Karri McMahon made her 50th appearance in the green and gold in the match.