Great Britain arrived late at the party but took home all the presents as they played Korea in their second and final Pool D match in Auckland this afternoon.
GB were 0-2 down by the seventh minute of the second half, when James Tindall found the net to make the score 1-2. With ten minutes of play left Ashley Jackson equalised from a penalty corner, and Tindall scored his second a few minutes later to give England the lead. It was a short lived lead, as Nam Hyun-Woo scored from the penalty spot. An appeal to the video umpire failed to have the decision reversed after it appeared as if Hyun-Woo may have controlled the ball with his body as he entered the circle.
It was left to the oldest member of the team, 34 year old Mark Pearn, to clinch the match for Great Britain after a mix up in the Korean defence allowed Pearn time to control the ball and slot the ball home with the winner.
Final score, 4-3, and GB will play Germany for the fifth place tomorrow.
JAMIE DWYER, was awarded the FIH Player of the Year in Auckland this afternoon. The 32 year old Australian had previously won the award in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2010 – more times than any other male player. The Young Player of the Year also went to an Australian, Matthew Swann. The women's awards will be announced at the Women's Champions Trophy in Rosario in February.
