England hoping to pick up momentum

Hockey

England arrived here yesterday for their two Test series in the Olympic stadium against Spain, the Olympic silver medallists, intent on continuing the rehabilitation they started at Milton Keynes last Saturday following that 10-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia.

With David Luckes and Ben Sharpe not available, Jimmi Lewis and Ben Barnes have been added to the party. Barnes, the East Grinstead defender, if he plays, will win his first full cap.

The Spanish have not played together since March, when they stamped their Olympic class on proceedings at the World Cup qualifier in Kuala Lumpur beating Korea in the final.

It is expected that at least 10 of their Olympic squad will line up against England today. England will want to maintain the momentum which they created last Saturday, with much resting on a tight defensive pattern, including Chris Mayer and Danny Hall tackling back with the gusto they showed at Milton Keynes and then breaking at speed with their captain, Russell Garcia, providing the centre thrust.

In Seoul, England suffered their first defeat in the women's junior World Cup, going down 5-2 to Australia. In a tightly-contested game, Australia rode their luck, going three goals ahead inside the first half-hour before Melanie Clewlow pulled a goal back. Australia went further ahead before Sally Wright at a penalty corner scored England's second.

ENGLAND SQUAD (v Spain, Terrassa, today): R Garcia (capt), J Halls (both HDM), C Mayer, B Crutchley, A Humphrey, J Pidcock (all Cannock), S Mason, J Wyatt (Reading), J Lewis (Havant), N Thompson (Old Loughtonians), G Fordham (Hounslow), C Giles (Klein Zwitserland), D Hall (Guildford), B Barnes (East Grinstead), D Woods, B Waugh (both Southgate).