Hockey: Wright quick off the mark

England. .7

France. . 1

SAM WRIGHT, with a goal inside 32 seconds, gave the England women's hockey team a splendid start in their opening game in the European Indoor Nations' Cup at Crystal Palace yesterday and they went on to beat France 7-1, writes Bill Colwill.

England's coach, Maggie Souyave, was well satisfied with the result and said: 'It was a good start and I was able to use everyone in my squad. The first game is always difficult and the French defensive play made it more so. We broke it down and I am well pleased. But I would have preferred not to have conceded a goal.'

After that opening goal from a four-player move at a penalty corner, England piled on the pressure and brave saves by the French keeper, Sylvie Taillaint, kept them at bay until a double strike in the eighth minute. First the captain, Lynn Bollington, and then Mandy Nicholls scored to put England three goals ahead.

Bollington struck again on the interval for her second. Three second-half goals from Hightown's Jackie Crook completed England's account, Laetitia Peyrelongue scoring a consolation goal for the French.

ENGLAND: J Thompson (Ipswich), C Reid, J Crook, F Lee, L Marsden (all Hightown), S Lister (Ipswich), S Wright, S Chandler (both Slough), L Bollington (capt), J Smith, C Harvie (all Chelmsford ), M Nicholls (Ealing).

FRANCE: S Taillant, M-C Messioux, C Durivau, H Esnus, M Martin, V Delavenne, S Le Jossec, C Vivies, M Boulet, B Delavenne, C Teffri (capt), I Peyrelongue.

Umpires: R Cohen (Neth) and A Ruiz (Sp).

Scotland started slowly against Austria at Crystal Palace, leading only by a goal from Ellen Murray at the interval. The Scots added four second-half goals for a 5-0 win but will need to improve their set-piece drills if they are to be serious medal contenders. Germany, the holders, gave notice of their intentions when they beat Denmark 15-0.

EUROPEAN WOMEN'S INDOOR NATIONS' CUP (Crystal Palace): Pool A: England 7 France 1; Germany 15 Denmark 0; Pool B: Scotland 5 Austria 0; Spain 5 Czechoslovakia 3.

(Photograph omitted)