Picture (right): England captain Ben Hawes receives the winner's salver from Tournament Director Martyn Gallivan.The final men’s match between England and Scotland proved to be an exciting finale to a weekend of entertaining hockey a t the Tri-Nations Tournament in Eastleigh this afternoon. England went into the match with Australia topping the table with nine points and a goal difference of plus eight. By contrast England had six points and a goal difference of plus three. But things did not look promising when Gareth Hall and Stephen Dick each scored for Scotland in the opening minute. Ashley Jackson pulled one back for England but Stephen Dick converted a penalty corner seconds late and restored Scotland’s two goal lead. But although the game was finely balanced, England had the better share of the chances and took full advantage of them. Adam Dixon scored from a penalty corner and a goal in open play from Richard Alexander gave England the equaliser. England went into the break in the lead after Jackson scored his second from a penalty corner but the second half was less a minute old when Gareth Hall scored his second for Scotland to restore parity. Although England were playing well, the goal difference to beat Australia seemed well beyond reach. But England were to have a couple of golden spells in the match. Five minutes into the second half England won a penalty stroke, which Jackson duly despatched, followed by a Richard Mantell penalty corner conversion. Stephen Dick scored his third to narrow the gap to one, but in the space of three minutes Jonty Clarke, Richard Alexander, Glenn Kirkham and Ashley Jackson, all found the net from open play, Jackson’s goal coming in the dying seconds. Jackson’s goal was his ninth in the tournament, making him the weekend’s top scorer. The final score – 10-5 to England – was enough to give England an identical points and goal difference tally with the Australians. The final clincher was the goals scored, where England’s total was 36 as against Australia’s 24.
The final match in the women’s tournament was only marginally less exciting, with the potential for all three teams to win the tournament. Scotland were 3-2 up against England before Ashleigh Ball scored the equaliser in the 36th minute. Skipper, Kerry Williams, scored her second of the match from a penalty corner in the last two minutes to give England the match and the tournament. England’s other scorer was Natalie Seymour.
Final tables:
Men’s Tournament: 1st England 9 pts (+8 – goals scored 26), 2nd Australia 9 pts (+8 – goals scored 24), 3rd Scotland 0 pts (-16).
Women’s Tournament: 1st England 7 pts (+2), 2nd Australia 6 pts (-2), 3rd 4 pts (+2).
