BHUBANESWAR: England put paid to Ireland’s hopes of progression to the knockout stages of the Men’s Hockey World Cup in India with an absorbing 4-2 win at the Kalinga Stadium on Friday.

Australia’s 11-0 demolition of China earlier in the day meant it was a straight forward scenario for Alexander Cox’s Ireland in Pool ‘B’; a draw or win would send them through to the crossover to face New Zealand with a place in the last eight at stake.

However England, three places above Ireland in the world rankings, ensured second place finish in the pool and Ireland’s elimination from the competition, with China taking third sport and a crossover clash with France.

The Australians advanced to the quarter-finals with a perfect record as pool winners with England finishing on four points, two ahead of China and three ahead of the Irish.

David Condon put England ahead on the 15 minute mark and a tight encounter followed with both sides well aware of what was at stake before the madness of the third quarter unfolded with four goals in four minutes.

First Chris Cargo equalised for Ireland in the 35th minute before Liam Ansell put England back ahead with a vicious backhand strike.

Shane O’Donoghue hit back for Ireland again from a penalty corner but parity didn’t last long as James Galls’ deflected effort restored England’s lead.

Ireland pushed hard in the final quarter for the goal that would see them through but it was not forthcoming and Mark Gleghorne added another for England in the dying seconds with a penalty corner.

Earlier, a brilliant performance saw Australia maul China as they narrowly fell short of their World Cup record of a 12-0 win against South Africa which they set in 2010.

Blake Govers scored a hat-trick (10th minute, 19th and 34th), Tim Brand (33rd, 55th) scored a brace, while goals from Flynn Ogilvie (49th), Jake Whetton (29th), Aran Zalewski (15th), Tom Craig (16th), Dylan Wotherspoon (38th) and Jeremy Hayward (22nd) helped Australia get their second highest World Cup win.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2018