Hockey: Germans take advantage of defensive lapse

A 52nd-minute goal from Germany's Nadine Emsting-Krienke gave the Olympic silver medallists a 1-0 win against England on the opening day of a Four Nations' Tournament in Glasgow yesterday, writes Bill Colwill.

In a match in which both sides had their periods of midfield dominance, it was untidiness in an English defence that had defended so well, which led to the solitary goal.

England, having lost Sam Wright with a broken nose in practice before the game, then lost Lisa Bayliss in the early exchanges with a facial injury. However, in spite of these losses they fought back and played with composure until they reached the circle where the play broke down with their final passes going astray.

With their captain, Sandie Lister, leading a spirited recovery after the German goal, England forced a couple of late penalty corners but were unable to penetrate a defence in which the goalkeeper, Bianca Weiss, made a number of crucial saves.

In the opening game Scotland, with second-half goals from Rhona Simpson and Sue MacDonald, beat France 2-0 in a game which they dominated territorially but failed within the circle.

ENGLAND: J Thompson (Ipswich); K Johnson (Leicester) L Bayliss, M Davies (both Sutton Coldfield), C Cook, F Lee (both Hightown), S Lister (Ipswich, capt), T Miller (Clifton) J Smith (Chelmsford), M Nicholls (Ealing), T Cullen (Hightown). Substitutes used: J Atkins (Bradford), L Youngs (Ipswich), S Gibson (Trojans).

GERMANY: B Weiss; E Hagenbaumer, S Krauss, S Thomaschinski, I Kuhnt, M Cremer, K Kauschke, P Suxdorf, H Latzsch, F Hentschel (capt), N Ernsting-Krienke. Substitutes used: A Knechten, A Feurstack.

Umpires: J Liggins (Wal), L Fotheringham (Sco).

FOUR NATIONS WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (Glasgow): Scotland 2 France 0; England 0 Germany 1.