England has maintained its 100% record by beating New
Zealand in the last of their Pool A matches in the World League Finals in New
Delhi.
What showed every sign of being a goalless first half was
changed when Ashley Jackson converted a penalty corner five minutes before the
end of the half. He returned to the second half with a second after nine
minutes. Mark Gelghorne made it 0-3 to England with his penalty corner shot
mid-way through the half.
Although Hugo Inglis pulled one back for New Zealand, a
brace of goals in open play from England in the last three minutes put the
issue beyond doubt. The scorers - Tom Carson and Barry Middleton.
In the other Pool A match there was a surprise 3-3 draw when
Germany played India. It could have been
worse for the Germans. India held on to a 2-3 lead for 16 minutes before Thilo
Stralkowski scored the equaliser in the closing minutes.
Today’s results mean that England finish top of Pool A,
followed by Germany, New Zealand and India.
England will now play Belgium in the Quarter Finals on
Wednesday. Belgium finally came good in
their final Pool B match with a 2-2 win against The Netherlands, but a single
draw is not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table.
Argentina’s amazing campaign throughout the World League was
slightly derailed when they lost 6-1 to Australia. However, that leaves them in second place in
Pool B behind Australia, separated by goal difference. They will face New
Zealand in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
Wednesday’s Quarter Finals:
England v Belgium
Germany v Netherlands
Argentina v New Zealand
Australia v India
England v Belgium
Germany v Netherlands
Argentina v New Zealand
Australia v India
