Hockey: England fail to follow Bertram lead

ENGLAND WERE comprehensively beaten after another splendid start when they met Argentina in the second game of their Four Team tournament in Buenos Aires last night. Tom Bertram gave them the lead in the fourth minute, scoring his first international goal, but England then lost their way, slumping to a 5-2 defeat.

Thereafter England failed to cope with the speed of the Argentinian attack and were badly punished as a result in the second half after turning around at 1-1. The South Americans quickly ran up a 5-1 scoreline before Russell Garcia pulled a goal back when he converted England's eighth and last penalty corner.

The England coach, Barry Dancer, said after the game: "Very disappointing display especially after such a promising start to the tour. The effort of the team could not be questioned but the way we directed that effort was naive on occasions."

England play Argentina B today and with a win will expect to have a second chance at the A side in tomorrow's final.

Slough started their European Club Championship in Den Bosch yesterday also with an early goal in the opening minute when Jane Smith took advantage of poor defending. Unlike England, Slough went on to win convincingly 5-0.

ARGENTINA: M Ronconi; E Paulon, D Chiodo (capt), M Pellegrino, R Perez, C Retegui; J Lombi, R Vila, S Capurro; M Vila, A Castelli, G Orozco. Substitutes used: T MacCormick, F Moresi, E Paulon.

ENGLAND: J Lewis (Cannock); M Johnson (Cannock), T Bertram (Bournville), J Halls (Cannock), B Waugh (Souhgate, capt); J Wallis (Teddington), B Garrard (Teddington), R Garcia (Harvestehuder); B Sharpe (Cannock), G Cover (Havant), D Hall (Guildford). Substitutes used: B Barnes (Reading), D Woods (Southgate), C Giles (Southgate), M Pearn (Reading).

Umpires: G Poleri (Arg) and C Hough (Eng).