India lose both matches against Australian Development squad

The Indian hockey team finished their Australian trip on a disappointing note losing both their matches against a development squad.

The Indian hockey team finished their Australian trip on a disappointing note losing both their matches against a development squad.

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The Sandeep Singh-led side, which had gone down 3-5 to the Australian Development Squad last night, lost 2-5 on Wednesday for their second straight defeat at the hands of a squad coached by Ric Charlesworth.

The home side scored through Hotchkis Daniel (14th), Geoffrey Cock (18th), Liam de Young (21st), Jason Wilson (53rd) and Mark Patterson (61st min) while Shivendra Singh (10th) and Sandeep (46th) reduced the margin for India.

India took the lead in Wednesday's match at the State Hockey Centre when Shivendra deflected Sandeep's shot past goalkeeper George Bazeley.

But the lead did not last long as Australia equalised four minutes later when Daniel beat Baljit Singh under the post after he was set up by midfielder Jonathan Charlesworth.

Cock edged the Australian side ahead following a goalmouth melee and they further consolidated their lead when skipper Young collected a pass from Patterson to put them up 3-1.

India managed to pull one back after the break when Sandeep sounded the board, flicking a penalty corner past goalkeeper Bazeley.

Much to India's dismay, Wilson and Patterson went on to sound the boards and complete the rout.