Australia made an ominous start to the Oceania Youth Olympic Hockey Qualifier, with the men thumping Vanuatu 20-0 before outclassing the hosts Papua New Guinea 21-2 on the opening day of competition in Port Moresby.
The PNG men were also held to a 2-2 draw by Solomon Islands, while the Vanuatu women beat the hosts 5-3.
The PNG and Australia womens teams in action in Port Moresby. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo
The Australian women recorded the biggest winning margin with a 30-1 demolition of Solomon Islands but coach Tim White still wanted improvements.
"We want to try and do better and then we try and do that in the next game and then we try and do even better in the next game," he said.
"So basically as group trying to get better and better each game until we get to the end of the tournament."
Tonga was a late withdrawal from the tournament and Vanuatu assistant coach Todd Kitto said just getting teams to PNG was a challenge.
"It's difficult getting the funding for a small country to get two teams over to another country for international tournament but really glad that we made it," he said.
"They're absolutely stoked to be here and obviously the goal when you come to these tournaments is to win but I think the biggest thing is, especially when you're coming up against teams likes Australia, just to keep learning as much as possible."
The round robin continues until Saturday's playoff matches with the men's and women's winners earning qualification for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in November.
