England booked a place in the 5th/6th play off this afternoon with one of those rare events - a win over Australia. The win secures them a game on Sunday, against….. Australia! It will be a vital match for England as under the new format the bottom three nations are relegated.
Today’s match saw a side with some less familiar faces on the pitch. Maddie Hinch kept goal in place of Beth Storry and Crista Cullen was rested. Cullen absence might have been noticed at penalty corners, but it was skipper Kate Walsh who gave England a 1-0 lead at the break from a 34th minute corner conversion.
Australia equalised early in the second half, but in a brilliant two minute spell Anne Panter and then Nicola White found the net to put England in the lead.
Australia managed to score a late goal, but by then it was too late and England ran at the 3-2 winners.
Earlier in the day Germany had beaten China 4-1 meaning that the England – Australia game was a dead rubber. England will find their next match againsgt Australia more difficult.
Our photo shows Australian ‘keeper Toni Cronk beaten by Anne Panter’s shot. Hannah McLeod looks on. More images will appear on our new-look photos site, www.hockeyimages.co.uk tomorrow (Saturday).
