England show better technique

Men's Hockey International Series: Shirtsleeves night at Belfield and Ireland went down in their first of a series of three against England. An up-tempo start from the visitors, which forced captain Nigel Henderson into half a dozen early saves, ultimately squeezed the Irish defence too severely.

A clash of sticks inside the 25 on 21 minutes and from England's third short corner Mark Pearn scooped over the grounded Henderson when the ball fell perfectly to his feet, having come off the upright from a low drag flick.

Ireland finished the first half with more control and vision, finally forcing some grasping defending from England. But, while the sides went in with England 1-0 up, it took just 10 minutes of the second half for the second goal to arrive. On England's fifth corner Stephen Butler was judged to have slid low into Craig Parnham on the breakdown strike and from the penalty Robert Todd made it 2-0.

Technically excellent, England closed off most of the avenues to strikers Justin Sherriff, Graham Shaw, Mark Irwin and Gordon Elliott. England's third was a well taken interception from 30 metres out. Three speedy passes later Danny Hall popped it into an empty net, the Irish defence spreadeagled. An angled deflection from Barry Middleton took England's score to four, leaving Ireland with two more games to make up some ground.

IRELAND: N Henderson (capt.), K Burns, P Brown, D Smyth, J Black, S Butler, N Buttimer, C Jackson, M Irwin, G Elliott, J Sherriff. Rolling subs: M Raphael, G Shaw, D Hobbs, J Jermyn

ENGLAND: S Mason, J Collins, R Todd, J Peckett, R Moore, M Pearn, J Wallis, D Hall, B Hawes, M Jones, J Goudie. Rolling subs: M Johnson, C Parnham, B Middleton.

Umpires: R Graham (Eng), C Hutchinson (Ire)