Australia won the women's hockey World Cup in Utrecht yesterday beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a thrilling final. The reigning Olympic and Champions Trophy holders went behind to a 46-second effort from Ellen Dubbledam-Kuiper, but goals from Alyson Annan, Julie Towers and Juliet Haslam eased them away only for Julie Deiters' goal in the 62nd minute to give them a very nervy last eight minutes.

Haslam, who owing to international tours has celebrated her last seven birthdays abroad and was 29 on Saturday, had got the slightest of touches to Bianca Langham's goalbound shot to give the Australians breathing space in an end-to-end encounter.

The Dutch, who had won the world title five times, reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute when the Australian defence stood off expecting the big hit from the penalty corner. Instead, Margje Teeuwen exchanged passes with Susan van der Wielen and the latter's incisive slide to Deiters resulted in a tap-in at the far post.

The Dutch had shocked the two-time Olympic champions early when Dubbeldam-Kuiper capitalised on an error by Australian 'keeper Clover Maitland to flick the ball home.

Unlike their Australian men's team, who were walloped 6-2 by the Dutch in Saturday's semi-finals, the women kept their composure and Annan easily beat Daphne Touw in the 23rd minute after being found unmarked by a superb pass from Alison Peek.

The Hockeyroos, playing in all-in-one Lycra bodysuits, struck like lightning in the next attack as they forced a penalty corner and Towers dived to tap the ball over the line, after Touw had smothered Claire Mitchell-Taverner's shot.

It was just reward for the Australians, who have won the last four Champions' Trophies.

They had gone close on several occasions with captain Rechelle Hawkes, 31 on Saturday and playing in her fourth World Cup, producing a brilliant weaving run from 30 yards out only for her goalbound effort to be deflected.

Annan, whose two goals in the semi-final had inspired the Aussies to overcome a tough challenge from Argentina, should have put them ahead in the 11th minute when Mitchell-Taverner slipped the ball inside her in the circle but she snatched at her shot and the ball flew high, wide and handsome into the crowd.

The Dutch had some respite during the first half when the Australians had two narrow escapes within a minute as two Dutch `goals' were ruled out - first because the shot that cannoned off Alison Peek came from outside the circle and then, from the resulting penalty corner, Dillianne van den Boogaard's shot was deemed too high.

Dubbledam-Kuiper had the last effort of the first period when she flashed a shot just over the bar to give the Dutch renewed hope.

The second half was played at a frenetic pace with the Dutch going closest through Mijntje Donners - but her shot was brilliantly saved by Maitland.