Hockey: England fail to penetrate

England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

ENGLAND'S dismal performance against Australia, whom they have not beaten since winning 2-0 in Melbourne in 1985, continued in Penang yesterday when they were beaten 3-0 in their second match in the Sultan Azlan Shah Five Nations Tournament, writes Bill Colwill.

Yesterday, two goals in the opening 12 minutes had England reeling and although the full back, Phil McGuire, and the goalkeeper, Simon Mason, had outstanding games, England were unable to pass a defence in which the goalkeeper, Damon Diletti, made a number of smart saves.

David Wansbrough, recalled to the Australian squad after missing the recent European tour, found himself unmarked at the top of the circle to open the scoring in the second minute following Jay Stacy's penalty-corner strike.

The right-winger, Stephen Davies, sent Mark Hager through for the second goal in the 12th minute, with Stacy converting Australia's fourth penalty corner for their third goal in the 61st minute.

David Whittle, England's manager, said after the game: 'We had our chances but unless we execute our penalty- corner drills properly we will not win anything.'

ENGLAND: S Mason (Firebrands); J Potter (Hounslow), J Halls (Old Loughtonians), P McGuire (Teddington), S Hazlitt (Hounslow); R Garcia (Polo Barcelona), Soma Singh (Southgate), J Laslett (capt, Teddington); C Mayer (Cannock), J Shaw (Southgate), N Thompson (Old Loughtonians). Substitutes used: B Crutchley (Hounslow), D Williams (Havant), A Humphrey (Hull).

SULTAN AZLAN SHAH FIVE NATIONS CUP (Penang): South Africa 0 Pakistan 1; England 0 Australia 3. Standings: 1 Australia P2-4pts; 2 Pakistan 2-4; 3 England 2-2; 4 South Africa 2-0; 5 Malaysia 2-0.