England’s lack of experience at indoor hockey was emphasised on the final day of pool matches at the Burlington Tournament in Vienna today. England’s women, playing club side HC Wels from Austria, were 2-0 down by half time. Sally Walton was able to pull one back from the penalty spot by Wels had a final word with a goal by Sarova in the last minutes of the match. Final score 3-1 to Wels. Wels will play Scotland, who earlier in the day beat the USA 13-0, in the final tomorrow. England will play for the fifth place but their opponents are not yet known.
The men had a better result today but, like the women, await news of who their opponents will be for the fifth place match tomorrow. Playing Poland A this afternoon, England took an early lead with a first minute goal by Harry Jawanda. Alastair Brogdon added a second, before Rafael Grotowski pulled two back for the Poles in as many minutes. England were unlucky to lose David Beckett to a head injury before half time but went into the break with a one goal advantage thanks to a second Brogdon goal. Danger man, Grotowski, put the Poles in front, with two goals in as many minutes, before Richard Lane equalised. Final score 4-4.
More indoor news will appear on this site later.
