Cannock’s 20-year-old Harry Jawanda, recently capped for the first time, scored four times to help an England team defeat English champions Reading 6-0 in a showpiece match at the National Youth Hockey Festival at Nottingham.
Reading, preparing for the European Club Championship in a fortnight’s time, had to play without their internationals who are on an enforced rest period.
With former England goalkeeper Simon Mason coming out of retirement, Reading did restrict the England team to two goals in the first half but they tired.
Jawanda scored three close range goals and a penalty stroke with Richard Lane and Gareth Andrew adding the other goals.
Lowly ranked Malaysia were surprise finalists in the 16th Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, the first major international tournament of the year. They beat India 2-1 in the semi-finals to give themselves the chance to win their own tournament for the first time. They will face formidable opponents in today’s final. World Cup finalists Australia, Azlan champions four times, defeated Korea 6-2 in their semi-final.
