New Zealand's Leon Hayward may have won his personal duel against brother Jeremy - but it was the Aussie Kookaburra who's enjoyed the last laugh in their 'ridiculous' Olympic hockey face-off.
The 31-year-old Leon, in goal for New Zealand, had the sinking feeling of his net bulging as Australia kept up their 100% winning record at the Games on Wednesday with a 4-2 triumph.
His only consolation was making three fine saves and stopping Jeremy, the Australian defender, scoring past him as he made a brilliant stop from his younger brother's third-quarter penalty corner flick, gloving the high-speed strike on to the post.
'Could you imagine it? It's ridiculous isn't it?' smiled Leon, pondering the trans-Tasman family confrontation.
'It's a good feeling, a strange feeling, and I guess everyone's really proud of what's happened - but, unfortunately, I didn't win today so I'm not the happiest guy.'
Australia's Jeremy Hayward played against his brother Leon in the men's hockey at the Olympics last night after a 'ridiculous' rule saw the siblings compete
Leon was once Australia's goalie but after failing to hold down his place, ended up four years later being snapped up by NZ, for whom he was eligible because his mum hails from Dunedin
The 31-year-old Leon, in goal for New Zealand, had the sinking feeling of his net bulging as Australia kept up their 100% winning record at the Games on Wednesday with a 4-2 triumph
The two Perth-raised brothers admitted it had been a weird, but enjoyable, feeling facing off on sport's biggest stage.
Leon was once the Kookaburras' goalie but after failing to hold down his place, ended up four years later being snapped up by the Black Sticks, for whom he was eligible because his mum, who'd played at State level in Australia, hails from Dunedin.
Not even after saving little brother's
