Scotland best in `grudge match'

Scotland gave themselves an outside chance of reaching the women's World Cup hockey semi-finals in Utrecht, Holland yesterday as they beat China 2-1 in what was billed as a grudge match.

Scotland, who shocked South Africa by beating them 3-2 in their last match, need to beat Germany by five clear goals today to progress while South Africa, who beat USA 2-1, are also in with a shout - but they play hot favourites Australia.

The Australians, who are the reigning Olympic and world champions, put in a hard-working performance to beat Germany 30. Bianca Langham, Kate Starr and Alyson Annan scored the goals.

There were none of the histrionics from the last meeting between China and Scotland in Harare last July where two Chinese players and their manager were banned for two years and another for a year after they spat and threw water at the Japanese and South African umpires following their 10 defeat.

Yesterday's match, though, was tinged in controversy as both sides hotly disputed the penalty stroke that was awarded when the sides were tied at one apiece - veteran Sue MacDonald converting it.

"I thought the penalty was harsh - a corner would have sufficed," Chinese spokesman Xie Yong said.

Scottish coach Mike Gilbert disagreed vehemently: "Of course it was a penalty the player (Alison Grant) was coughing up blood," he said.

The Scots had gone ahead in the 15th minute when Sue Fraser hammered home her side's first penalty corner, awarded after Rhona Simpson's stick had been illegally held by a defender. Chen Zhaoxia cracked in the equaliser from China's second penalty corner on the stroke of half-time.

In the men's competition Germany stayed on course for their first World Cup title as they qualified for the men's semi-finals after hanging on to draw 4-4 with unheralded Canada in their Pool A match.

The Germans, who let a 4-2 lead slip with just 10 minutes to go, were joined in the semi-finals by the Netherlands, who came back from a goal down to beat South Korea 4-2 - Jan Lomans scoring a hat-trick from penalty corners.

Eight-time Olympic champions India at last got their first win in both the men and women's competitions, as the men beat New Zealand 1-0 in Pool A, with Mukesh Kumar scoring the only goal of the match in the 64th minute.