Hockey: England succumb to Escarre

England 0 Spain 3

THE OLD firm of Juan Escarre and Xavier Arnau humbled England here yesterday in their third Champions' Trophy game. After a promising start, England succumbed to the Olympic and World Cup silver medallists as they again failed to convert their chances.

In a bright opening, England blunted the Spanish attack for long periods. First, they were denied a penalty stroke when Mark Pearn, after a good run, was chopped in the circle and they then missed from the resulting penalty corner. Presented with the advantage of Spain being reduced to 10 men following the temporary suspension of Escarre, England once more failed to capitalise.

The Spaniard returned in the 23rd minute to combine with Arnau and won a penalty corner, from which he scored. England's best effort came on the stroke of half-time with a tremendous reverse-stick strike from Danny Hall but the Spanish goalkeeper was equal to the shot.

Escarre struck again 10 minutes into the second half when the English defence appeared to be caught unawares by a 40-yard pass which he deflected into the net. With England now pressing further forward the Escarre-Arnau combination set up Spain's third goal for Eduard Tubau in the 65th minute. There was still time for Russell Garcia to drive forward to win a penalty stroke, which he fired against the crossbar.

A disappointed English coach, Barry Dancer, said afterwards: "We had a reasonable first half and threatened on a number of occasions but had no outcome."

In a fiercely contested game, well umpired by England's Hamish Jamson, Australia edged home 2-1 against the Netherlands, the Olympic and world champions.

ENGLAND: S Mason (Reading); M Johnson (Cannock), J Wyatt (Reading), T Bertram (Bournville), B Waugh (Southgate, capt); D Woods (Southgate), R Garcia (Harvestehuder, Hamburg), J Wallis (Teddington); B Sharpe (Cannock), B Crutchley (Cannock), M Pearn (Reading). Substitutes used: C Giles (Southgate), A Humphrey (Cannock), D Hall (Guildford), B Garrard (Teddington).

SPAIN: B Herrera; J Malgosa (capt); J Casas, R Sala, J Arnau; J Sanchez, F Fabregas, P Usoz; X Arnau, J Escarre, P Amat. Substitutes used: J Sanchez, R Garza, S Ferran, E Tubau, J Quintana.

Umpires: D Gentles (Aus), P Schellekens (Neth).

CHAMPIONS' TROPHY (Brisbane): Men: England 0 Spain 3; Australia 2 Netherlands 1. Standings: 1 Australia 9pts; 2 South Korea 7; 3 Spain 4; 4 Pakistan 3; 5 Netherlands 1; 6 England 0. Women: Argentina 2 Korea 0; Netherlands 2 Germany 3. Standings: 1 Australia 9pts; 2 Netherlands 9; 3 Argentina 6; 4 Germany 3; 5 New Zealand 3; 6 South Korea 0.