Hockey: Garcia hits four in loss

Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Great Britain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

RUSSELL GARCIA scored four goals for Britain yesterday but they were still beaten 5-4 by Australia, the holders, in the Champions' Trophy, writes Bill Colwill in Lahore.

Britain, looking for their first point, could not have started more disastrously, Greg Corbit putting Australia two up inside four minutes.

However, with John Shaw, the captain, at his best, Britain were leading 3-2 by the 24th minute. First Garcia scored from a penalty corner and he then took a pass from Shaw for his second. A splendid dummy turn next saw him finish off a quickly taken corner.

Australia were on terms early in the second half following a Stephen Davies penalty corner and they led again through Mark Heger. Another Garcia penalty corner, though, saw Britain draw level.

As both sides strove for the winner, it was Australia's Jay Stacy who scored from a penalty goal with just six minutes remaining.

It had been an outstanding game in which players on both sides lifted themselves. And none more so than Garcia, whose name was on the lips of everyone as they left the national stadium here.

GREAT BRITAIN: D Luckes (East Grinstead); P Bolland (Hounslow), J Halls (Old Loughtonians), J Laslett (Teddington), Soma Singh (Southgate), M Sutton (Bournville), D Williams (Havant), J Shaw (capt, Southgate), R Garcia (Polo Barcelona), S Nicklin (Teddington), R Thompson (Hounslow). Substitutes used: R Davies (Harleston Magpies), P McGuire (Teddington), C Mayer (Cannock).

AUSTRALIA: S Dearing; S Carruthers, M York, D Sproule, L Elmer, B Garard, S Davies, J Stacy, M Hager, P Lewis, G Corbit. Substitutes used: W Birmingham (capt), D Wansbrough, L Bodimeade.

Umpires: R Khan (Pak), P Von Reth (Neth).