A difficult weekend for England ended with the men suffering a 3-1 defeat while women record consecutive 5-2 losses
- Martha Taylor makes her senior international debut; Holly Hunt scores first international goal
- Liam Sanford brings up 50 appearances for England; James Gall captain for the first time
- Teams return to FIH Hockey Pro League action against India on 2-3 April
England’s men and women were both beaten again by ruthless Argentina outfits in their FIH Hockey Pro League fixtures of the weekend.
The men put in an improved showing on yesterday’s 2-0 defeat but were undone by some clinical attacking play from the hosts, with Lucas Toscani opening the scoring and Lucas Martinez adding a second before half-time.
Nick Bandurak struck in the dying moments of the third quarter to set up a grandstand finish but England couldn’t find an equaliser, with Martinez sealing the points with virtually the last touch of the match.
England’s women recorded a second 5-2 loss in as many days against a rampant Las Leonas side, for whom sisters Maria and Victoria Granatto both scored.
In between their goals, Martina Trinanes and Eugenia Trinchinetti both converted penalty corners before Ellie Rayer and Holly Hunt scored either side of a wonder goal by Agustina Albertarrio to add some respectability to the scoreline.
Both English teams are next in action against India on 2-3 April.
MATCH REPORT
Argentina 5 (3)
M Granatto (5’, FG); Trinanes (26’, PC); Trinchinetti (28’, FG); V Granatto (35’, FG); Albertarrio (49’, FG)
England 2 (0)
Rayer (48’, FG); Hunt (52’, FG)
The hosts set out an early marker as they looked to repeat yesterday’s victory over England, Maria Granatto opening the scoring in the fifth minute as she picked her spot in the top corner after finding herself in acres of space in the middle of the circle.
A sliding Izzy Petter came close to diverting home a teasing pass by Hunt in the 17th minute but two goals in the final five minutes of the half saw Argentina take a commanding lead into the interval.
Trinanes scored the first, deflecting a slap from a penalty corner into the roof of the net before Trinchinetti added another two minutes later as she reacted quickest to an Amy Tennant save from a second set piece.
Victoria Granatto made it four early in the third quarter, starting the move inside her own half and finishing it off with a fine strike following a pacy Argentine attack.
Hannah Martin took the game into her own hands in the 44th minute, going on a mazy run from the halfway line into the circle but she couldn’t pick out a shot and was tackled.
She produced another fine piece of solo skill four minutes later, stealing the ball on the left side of the pitch and crossing for Rayer to deflect in her second goal in as many days.
Albertarrio restored Argentina’s four-goal lead less than 60 seconds afterwards as she jinked past several defenders before smashing the ball beyond Tennant.
England would have the last say however, with Hunt getting her name on the scoresheet for the first time in international hockey as she was perfectly placed to nudge home after Rayer’s shot hit the post.
Starting XI: Tennant (GK), Toman, Martin, Hunt, Petter, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, Crackles, S Hamilton, Peel, Balsdon
Subs (Used): Unsworth, Rayer, Neal, Hunter, Taylor, Malzer
Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)
With thanks to England Hockey
