Hockey: Australia take series to a final showdown

ENGLAND WENT down 3-2 to Australia despite a late fightback in the second of their three-match Test series against Australia in Brisbane yesterday.

They went a goal behind to a Katrina Powell strike after just 13 minutes and, although Slough's Jane Smith scored from their first penalty corner three minutes later, they trailed 3-1 at half-time. Western Australia's Candice Ringrose restored Australia's lead in the 20th minute with Shelley Andrews putting them further ahead just before the interval, both goals coming from open play with Australia dominating first-half possession.

England's performance improved after the interval but it was not until three minutes from the end that Smith collected her second goal of the game. The teams meet again today to decide the series following England's 2-1 victory in the first Test at Toowoomba on Tuesday.

ENGLAND: C Reid (Hightown); L Catchpole (Ipswich), S Chandler (Slough), F Greenham (Slough), M Clewlow (Canterbury); K Brown (Slough), K Bowdon (Fyffes Leicester), J Empson (Canterbury); J Sixsmith (Sutton Coldfield), T Cullen (Hightown), P Miller (Fyffes Leicester). Substitutes used: A Bennett (Slough), J Smith (Slough), L King (Ipswich), H Rose (Duke University, US); L Newcombe (Clifton Scottish Life).

AUSTRALIA: J Sowery: M Andrews, L Carruthers, J Haslam, R Hawkes, B Langham, C Mitchell Taverner, A Peek, K Smith, A Annan, K Powell. Substitutes used: L Dobson, R Garrard, R Imison, B Morrison, C Ringrose.