Hockey: Nervous start for holders Australia

Australia, the defending champions, opened the men's competition on the second day of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester yesterday, eventually stamping their authority with a 6-1 victory against New Zealand.

Yet Australia's former England coach, Barry Dancer, admitted it was a tentative start to their title defence. "We did not handle the first half well but the second half was very pleasing," he said.

Indeed, it was a nervous opening spell for the champions who were rocked by a 20th-minute penalty corner goal from Hayden Shaw for the Kiwis. Although Australia were on level terms through Matt Smith within a minute it was not until the second half that they took the game by the scruff of the neck with Craig Victory and Troy Elder both scoring twice for a comprehensive victory.

Barbados's debut in the competition against South Africa was very popular with the Manchester crowd who gave them plenty of vocal support. However, it did little to slow the South Africans who went on to win 10-1 with Surbiton's captain, Greg Nicol, scoring a hat-trick, two from penalty strokes.

Barbados showed lots of pace, courage and, at times, no mean skill, but they lacked organisation. Yet the biggest cheer of the tournament so far greeted Mark Murray's goal for them. "We start as underdogs but we'll come and run at them," he said afterwards.

In the other game in England's Pool 4, Wales drew 1-1 with Canada. The Welsh, after a goalless first period in which they failed to take advantage of the Canadians being a man down for a 10-minute period, took the lead in the 50th minute. Cannock's Simon Organ, taking advantage of a generous penalty-stroke decision, put them ahead.

Canada came back to score the equaliser eight minutes later, Wayne Fernandes eventually beating George Harris at a penalty corner after the goalkeeper had made a number of outstanding saves to keep Wales in the game. With the Canadians reduced to 10 men for a second time, Wales stepped up the pace in the closing minutes but were unable to snatch the winner their endeavour deserved.

England's women, after their 2-2 draw with a physical New Zealand on the opening day, were licking their wounds yesterday and preparing for today's game against Canada.