Picture: Ashley Jackson celebrates his penalty corner equaliser. Photo courtesy of Pankaj Nangia / Action Plus ImagesEngland last beat Australia in 1985 and today most of the media believed they were the underdogs. But they showed their British bulldog fighting spirit as they overcame the Australians by 3-2, with James Fair keeping the Australians at bay more than once – a fact which did not go unnoticed by Australian coach Rich Charlesworth who commented on how well he played.
England always seem to start slowly and a penalty corner was awarded to Australia after just three minutes when Richard Mantell was left for dead coming into the circle. However it was well defended by England. A lovely overhead pass across the field by Ben Hawes was not pounced on quickly enough by the forwards and shortly afterwards Australia earned their second penalty corner. This one brought out a good save by James Fair and was cleared.
England earned their first penalty corner after seven minutes after a lifted ball in the circle. A good push by Ashley Jackson went just past the post. More pressure from Australia.
A fantastic point blank save by Fair and then Australia fired over the top from the resulting corner. With fifteen minutes left in the first half, Australia won another corner. Good pressure from the defence forced the Australians put the ball over the top again. England put a lot of pressure on themselves by giving the ball away too often. It was a mistake in the defence again which led to the Australians being awarded a penalty stroke, with Captain Jamie Dwyer putting the ball low past Fair. However with ten minutes left on the clock Jackson pulled the scores level with a trademark drag flick from England's second penalty corner.
A lovely pass over the top from Glenn Kirkham found James Tindall but he was on his own and could not escape the clutches of the Australian defence. Two minutes to go and England won their third penalty corner of the half. With Jackson off the pitch everyone expected Mantell to step up, but a well worked routine gave a chance and a goal to Tindall. 2-1 at half time.
Both teams had chances at the start of the second half but it was Australia that won the first penalty corner of the half which was scrambled away by England's defence. Ten minutes into the half though it was a super run by Tindall down the left wing, cutting inside past the Australian defence and passing to Ian Mackay. His shot hit the post but Tindall, following up, was on hand to put the ball in the net for his second of the game.
Two corners were awarded to Australia in quick succession, followed by a third soon after, but Fair stood tall time after time, helped too by the Australian's inability to stop the ball or hit the ball on target. Finally their seventh corner of the half bore fruit when Dwyer picked up the ball and fired in to make it a 2-3. But it was too late. A historical win for England and an excellent start to their campaign.
The big match of the day as far as the 12,000 crowd was concerned, was the match between India and Pakistan. The crowd went wild as India ran out 4-1 winners in a game which was played in a friendlier affair than many outside the hockey world would have predicted, with not one card being issued. Goals from Shrivenda Singh, Prabhjot Singh and two penalty corners from Sandeep Singh gave a smile on the face to all the volunteers and police alike.
Today's results:
South Africa 2 Spain 4
Australia 2 England 3
Pakistan 1 India 4
Pool B: 1. India 3 pts (+3), 2. Spain 3 pts (+2), 3. England 3 pts (+1), 4. Australia 0 pts (-1), 5. South Africa 0 pts (-2), 6. Pakistan 0 pts (-3).
