A True Revenge
First Day of the Field Hockey Tournament

A true revenge? No, not yet. But the win of the Australian field hockey team the Bentstix Boomerangs Thursday afternoon over the Dutch side Inittowinit (2-0) gives them a psychological advantage for the rest of the tournament anyway.

How different it was three years ago. When Inittowinit beat the Aussies in the final of the 2002 Sydney Gay Games. And became the first ever Dutch gay field hockey team to win the gold medal. ,,An all Australian final this year, that would be fine,'' said team captain Anthony Noonan (38) after the deserved win over the orange team that couldn't make a single goal from four penalty-corners in the first half. Without the two male teams from Down Under, the other one is Bentstix Cockatoos, there would not even be a hockey tournament. Because the other two participating teams are both Dutch. Noonan: ,,Pity there isn't a German team too. A country though with a great hockey-history.''

Noonan and his team mates were very creative fundraisers for their trip to the 10th edition of EuroGames. ,,We did strip shows, like in the movie Full Monty and we organized harbour cruises in Sydney, where most of our players are based. A local club sponsored us with 5000 Australian dollars so we could buy our outfit and pay for bed and breakfast during our stay in Utrecht. We only had to pay the tickets ourselves.'

Noonan looks back very confident after the first day of the tournament which is held on the grounds of SV Kampong, in the southern part of Utrecht. ,,Three wins in three matches, that is a good result. But Friday is another day. How will our muscles be when we wake up?'

Friday the four male teams and the four female teams will play another round of three games each. Then the final standing will be made. The numbers one and two will play the finals on Saturday, the numbers three and four meet for the semi-finals. Standings after the first day: Men: 1. Bentstix Boomerangs 3-9; 2. Inittowinit 3-4; 3. N' joystick 3-3; 4. Bentstix Cockatoos 3-1. Female: 1. Hollands Glorie 3-9; 2. Charme on Tour (Ger) 3-4; 3. Bentstix Playpuss 3-2; 4. Dutch Divas 3-1.