AUSTRALIA'S men's hockey team continued to stamp themselves as the team to beat at Tokyo after maintaining their perfect start to their Olympic campaign with a 5-2 win over Argentina on Tuesday.
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Fresh from a rusty first-up win then a 7-1 belting of India the Kookaburras, featuring Wagga defender Dylan Martin, trailed the defending Olympic champions early after Jose Leandro Tolini scored from a drag flick off a penalty corner.
But a dominant 11-minute period either side of quarter time where the Kookaburras piled on four goals ensured the world's number one-ranked ranked team improved their lead in Pool A with a third straight win.
Blake Govers equalised for the Kookaburras just before quarter time, and three goals in the opening ten minutes of the second quarter through Tom Wickham, Lachlan Sharp and Govers' second set up the win.
A fifth goal off a penalty corner from Jeremy Hayward just two minutes after halftime effectively sealed victory, before Argentina found a consolation goal with five minutes left in the match.
The intensity and running power of the Kookaburras proved too much for ageing Argentinians to handle in arguably their most polished performance of the Games thus far.
The Kookaburras will look to continue their superb start when they take on New Zealand on Wednesday night.
IN OTHER NEWS
Australia played the Black Sticks in five matches home and away as their main preparation for the Olympics, and the Kookaburras won every match.
The Kookaburras enjoy a day off on Thursday before they complete the group stage against Spain on Friday morning.
The quarter finals are scheduled for Sunday.
Meanwhile Australia's rugby sevens team, featuring Leeton's Dylan Pietsch, endured another disappointing result to complete their group games on Tuesday.
Australia led 12-0 at halftime against unbeaten New Zealand, but fell away badly as the Kiwis laid on two unanswered converted tries in the second half to prevail 14-12.
The Australians were due to play Fiji in the quarter finals on Tuesday night.
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