Garcia lifts Britain

Hockey

BILL COLWILL

In soaring temperatures in Cairo's giant Nasser City Stadium, built for the 1991 African Games, Great Britain yesterday beat Egypt 2-0 in the first of a two-Test series.

Britain went ahead in the third minute through Russell Garcia at their first penalty corner as specialist striker Calum Giles slipped the ball to Garcia to surprise the Egyptian defence.

With three minutes left, Rob Thompson, making the most of his exceptional reach, robbed an Egyptian defender coming out of the circle to set Mayer up for the second goal. Surprisingly, it was Mayer's first goal for Britain in his 39th appearance.

EGYPT: G Hatim; I Tawfik (capt), M Monaim; A Aboelyaz, M Yazid, B Ibrahim; M Rifaat, Y Monaim, M Samib, I Amin, M Abdulla. Substitutes used: A Abbas, M Mahmoud, A Fattah and M Saied.

GREAT BRITAIN: S Mason (Firebrands); J Wyatt (Reading), J Halls (Old Loughtonians); G Fordham (Hounslow), Kalbir Takher (Cannock), S Hazlitt (Hounslow); C Mayer (Cannock), R Garcia (Polo Barcelona), R Thompson (Hounslow), J Laslett (capt) (Teddington), N Thompson (Old Loughtonians). Substitutes used: C Giles (Havant), Soma Singh and J Shaw (Southgate), D Hall (Guildford).

Umpires: A Amin and H Korany (both Egypt).