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Australia set hockey record

November 18, 2005 18:45 IST

Australia recorded the highest victory margin in men's fieldhockey when they beat Fiji 26-0 in the Oceania World Cup qualifying match in Suva, Fiji, on Thursday.

The scoreline bettered Argentina's 25-0 win over Paraguay in the 2003 South American championship, which had eclipsed India's 24-1 record against the United States in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

Australia led 14-0 at half-time.

Australia's scorers were Jaime Dwyer (34, 48, 62, 63, 66, 69th minute), Grant Schubert (8', 13', 15', 37'), Matt Naylor (14', 17', 24', 46'), Nathan Eglinton (22', 54', 57'), Luke Doerner (7', 11', 25'), Mark Knowles (10'), Liam De Young (27'), Matt Wells (40'), Travis Brooks (52').

Fiji lost 16-0 to New Zealand last Wednesday.

Australia, who had beaten New Zealand 4-2 earlier in the tournament, play the Kiwis again in the tournament final on Saturday.

The winner of the qualifying goes to the World Cup in Germany in September, 2006, while the loser can still qualify through another tournament in China in April when five spots will be up for grabs.