England demolish Green Shirts

Rajendra Prasad Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: In-form England spanked a rusty Pakistan 8-2 in their second Pool A match to register their best-ever win in the  history of the Champions, while defending champions Australia were held to a 4-4 draw by Belgium in another match of the same pool at the Kalinga Stadium, here Sunday. In the first match of the evening the Netherlands spanked Germany 4-1.

England were at their attacking best in the opening two quarters and toyed with the Pakistan defence to build up a 5-0 lead.

England started their scoring spree through Mark Gleghorne’s (15^th minute) who struck home off a combined move. Nick Catlin doubled the lead two minutes later and in the 19^th David Condon deflected Tim Whiteman’s cross to put England 3-0 ahead. Then Barry Middleton (24th) and Ashley Jackson (26th) joined the party with two more field goals.

Debutant Sam Ward (46th) scored his third goal of the tournament with a lovely finish off a pass by Adam Dixons pass at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The remaining two goals were scored by Alastair Brogdon (48th) and Chris Griffiths. Muhammad Arslan Qadir (57th) and skipper Muhammad Imran (60^th) scored for Pakistan. With two wins from as many games, England are atop Pool A.

Earlier in another match, defending champions Australia conceded a last-minute goal and were held by a resilient Belgium. Tom Boon scored the all-important equaliser for the Red Lions from a penalty corner with just one second remaining in the match.

Chris Ciriello put Australia ahead converting Australia’s third penalty corner early in the second quarter. In the 19^th minute skipper Eddie Ockenden made it 2-0. Jake Whetton tripled Australia’s lead two minutes later by slotting home from close range.

However, Belgium were down but not out. They came back strongly and reduced the margin with two quick goals before the breather. Sebastien Dockier and Simon Florent van Aubel scoring off combined moves to keep their hopes alive.

The third quarter began at a frenetic pace as Australia once more asserted their supremacy when Flynn Ogilvie scored his first international goal to make the scoreline 4-2. However, Belgium hit back almost instantly as skipper John-John Dohmen scored a brilliant field goal to keep his side in the hunt. And then Boon gave Belgium a boon by smashing home a penalty corner.

The Dutch were always in command against Germany and scored through Constantijn, Diede Puffelen , Rogier Hofman and Seve van Ass. The consolation goal for Germany was scored by Florian Fuchs.