Hockey: Inconsistency lets Britain down in Test opener

Argentina 3 Great Britain

A frustrated British coach Jason Lee, following Great Britain's opening game in their five-Test series with Argentina in Buenos Aires, a 2-3 defeat said: "It was the worst we played since the Olympic Qualifier and it was also as good as we played - all in one match." Once again Britain's inconsistency had let them down.

Lee was able to use his three injured players who missed the recent Tri-Nations tournament, with Martin Jones showing no ill affects from his broken hand, while Dave Mathews and Craig Parnham, in his 100th international, both had a useful run-out. The drag-flick specialist Mathews had not appeared when Britain won their first penalty corner in the fifth minute which Ben Hawes converted.

Argentina's own specialist, Jorge Lombi, equalised in the 21st minute with a fine reverse-stick shot from Mario Almada putting the hosts ahead a few minutes before the interval. Britain had defended well under almost constant pressure during the first half, with captain Brett Garrard, afterwards named player of the match, forced to clear three times off the goal line.

With Britain acquiring more possession after the interval, Scotland's Niall Stott set Mark Pearn up for the equaliser from the top of the circle in the 54th minute. Bad marking a few minutes later allowed Argentina to go ahead with Fernando Ferrara scoring with a tap-in.

Rabobank Tournament (Amstelveen) Men: Netherlands 2 India 0. Women: Netherlands 2 Korea 3; Germany 0 China 0. Standings after 2 rounds: 1 Korea 4pts; 2 Germany 2 pts; 3 China 2pts; 4 Netherlands 1pt.

* In Townsville, Australian Katrina Powell scored the winning goal in extra time Sunday, to give defending Australia a 3-2 win over Japan in a four-team women's tournament. New Zealand beat the Australian Institute of Sport 1-0 to take third place.