Hockey: Scottish women surprise S Africa

SCOTLAND'S women lifted the gloom from a depressing weekend for British teams in the World Cup in Utrecht yesterday with a courageous 3-2 win against South Africa who were considered by many to be outside favourites for a semi- final place.

Slough's Sue MacDonald was the toast of the large and noisy contingent of Scottish supporters with two goals in a non-stop display of hard running alongside Rhona Simpson.

Indeed, it was MacDonald who set up the first goal when she drove 40 yards into the Springbok's defence to provide the cross for Sue Gilmour to open the scoring after seven minutes. MacDonald got the first of her two goals in the 18th. minute for a surprising 2-0 interval scoreline.

Although Pietie Coetzee pulled a goal back four minutes into the second half, MacDonald again extended Scotland's lead before Coetzee got her second at a penalty stroke.

England's men on Saturday contributed to a highly entertaining game before "house full" notices against Pakistan, losing out in a feast of goals 7-5 to the defending champions. Jon Wyatt, at a penalty corner and a penalty stroke, scored twice for England, with the other goals coming from Russell Garcia, Mark Pearn and a rare open play goal from Calum Giles.

The men, like the women, who lost 4-2 to Argentina, have now effectively waved good-bye to any chance of semi-finals places. After Purdy Miller had given England a fifth-minute lead, they lost their way and conceded two penalty corner goals to Maria Rognoni just before the interval.

Although Jane Sixsmith equalised just after the restart after a flowing exchange of passes with Karen Brown, Argentina cashed in on errors in England's defence with two late goals.

England will be without their captain, Bill Waugh, for their important game this evening against Poland. Waugh suffered a hamstring injury against Pakistan on Saturday.