Holders Australia booked a berth in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games women's hockey tournament with a 5-2 victory against Scotland. The Hockeyroos,ranked number six,finished their Pool A engagements with 10 points after registering three wins and a draw. Scotland were languishing at the bottom of the table with four points from as many matches. Australia,who finished fifth at last month's World Cup in Argentina,took an early lead and succeeded in holding off a late charge from the Scots in the thrilling tie at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium. Midfielder Kate Hollywood was the first to strike for Australia,scoring off a field goal in the 3rd minute. Forward Megan Rivers slammed in her fourth goal of the tournament in the 12th before Nicole Jessica Arrold scored the first of her two goals in the match five minutes from the breather. The Aussies,who were without their injured star Emily Hurtz,made it 4-0 after Jayde Taylor's pass was picked deftly by Ashleigh Nelson in the 43rd. Scotland fought back to pull back one in the 50th minute through Samantha Judge who was set up by forward Holly Cram. The Scots were on target again four minutes later with Alisa Robertson converting a short corner. But the Aussies snuffed off the stiff Scot challenge with Arrold scoring off a penalty four minutes from the final hooter. "We wanted to come out and set ourselves up for the semis and the final even though we knew we could have probably gone through with draw," said Nelson. "We wanted to set a strong tone,which can sometimes be hard with the heat. Scotland stepped up in the second half. They got that second goal,and that obviously lifted their spirits." Robertson said the team was gutted with the loss,as was evident when her team-mate Catriona Forrest could not hold back her tears and rushed to the dug-out after the match. "We're so very disappointed. In the second half we picked it up a little bit,but it was too little too late," said Robertson.
