Hockey: Great Britain win secures Tri-Nations triumph

Great Britain stormed to a 6-2 victory against Belgium yesterday to confirm their top place in the Tri-Nations Tournament in Vancouver, whatever the outcome of their final game against Canada today.

Against the team ranked 14th in the world, Britain struggled in the early exchanges going down to a Xavier Reckinger goal in the seventh minute. It was not until the 28th minute, after high class defending by full backs Jason Collins and Brett Garrard, that Barry Middleton, diving for a tip-in, put Britain on level terms.

Strong running by Britain's front-runners turned the game after the interval. Danny Hall put them ahead in the 45th minute with Mark Pearn adding the third a couple of minutes later. Hall scored his second at a penalty corner before Pearn finished off another individual run to score Britain's fifth. After Belgium goalkeeper, Manu Leroy, had blocked another Pearn shot Middleton intercepted the rebound to score his second with a reverse stick shot. A disputed penalty corner gave Belgium their second goal.

While pleased with the six goals, chief coach Mike Hamilton was critical of his team for not sticking to their game plan: "We did not fulfil the match objectives I would have liked."

In the final Pool game of the women's Four Nations Tournament Scotland beat Wales 2-0 to move ahead of Canada on goal difference at the top. Scotland meet Canada in today's final.

GB TEAM: J Ebsworth; J Collins, B Garrard (capt); A West, J Peckett, R Todd; V Marwaha, M Pearn, B Middleton, J Wallis, D Hall. Substitutes used: G Harris, N Stott, M Johnson, G Moodie, C Parnham.

TRI-NATIONS (Vancouver, Can): Belgium 2 Great Britain 6. Standings: 1 Great Britain P5-12pts; 2 Canada 5-6; 3 Belgium 3. Women's Four Nations: Scotland 2 Wales 0; Canada 7 Chile 3. Final Pool Standings: 1 Scotland 12pts; 2 Canada 12pts; 3 Wales 9pts; 4 Chile 3pts.