Melbourne - Title holders and hosts Australia clobbered the Netherlands 7-2 on Sunday to take command in the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament. The Dutch led early from Taeke Taekema's penalty corner but Grant Schubert scored a hat-trick as the Kookaburras raced to a 5-1 halftime lead.
The final score marked the biggest defeat for the Dutch in the 30-year history of the tournament.
Australia must be rated top favourite for a record 10th title, as they also saw off South Korea 4-0 in the opener on Saturday and are the only unbeaten team.
But the South Koreans rebounded swiftly, stunning Olympic champions Germany (who like Australia have won the title nine times) 5-3.
Seo Jong Ho scored a double, with Nam Hyun Woo and Lee Nam Jong also on target to reverse a German 2-1 lead within 13 minutes in the second half for South Korea's first win in the ninth Champions Trophy meeting with Germany.
In the day's other match, Xavier Ribas of Spain and England's James Tindall scored two goals each in a 3-3 draw between the two winless sides.
Australia lead the way with six points from Germany, South Korea, the Dutch (three each), England and Spain (one each).
The Champions Trophy continues on Tuesday after a rest day. The two top teams from the group stage contest the December 6 final.
