Hockey: England men fall by wayside

IT WAS a disappointing day for England at the World Cup here yesterday when the women went down courageously 3-2 to the Dutch and the men were well beaten 3-1 by Spain, the Olympic silver medallists.

Despite a promising start, England men never regained control after a 10-minute goal from Victor Pujol following a penalty corner, unnecessarily conceded by the England captain Bill Waugh. The final nail, however, came four minutes into the second half when the defence gave Pablo Amat a free shot at Simon Mason, who had made a series of fine saves in the first half, for Spain's second.

Spain continued to control the game, scoring their third through Pablo Usoz before Mark Pearn, following up Calum Giles sixth penalty corner attempt, scored England's consolation.

England women's heroic performance against their hosts came to naught as they twice conceded the lead to lose 3-2 to the Dutch in an exciting game of high class that thrilled a large crowd in excess of 14,000.

ENGLAND MEN: S Mason (Reading); B Garrard (Teddington), J Wyatt (Reading), J Halls (HDM The Hague), B Waugh (Southgate, capt); D Woods (Southgate), J Pidcock (Cannock), N Thompson (Old Loughtonians); B Sharpe (Cannock), R Garcia (HDM The Hague), J Lee (Old Loughtonians). Substitutes used: C Giles ( Southgate), M Pearn (Reading), J Wallis (Teddington), A Humphrey (Cannock).

ENGLAND WOMEN: C Reid (Hightown); J Empson (Canterbury), K Brown (Slough), M Clewlow (Canterbury), J Mould (Leicester); L Wright (Olton), K Bowden (Leicester, capt), K Moore (Olton); J Sixsmith (Sutton Coldfield), P Miller (Leicester), J Smith (Slough). Substitutes used: S Blanks ( Leicester), L Copeland (Slough), J Bimson (Loughborough Students), F Greenham (Olton).