Hockey: England waste chances: United States come out on top

England. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

United States. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

ENGLAND, like Australia on the opening day, lost their first game in the Waterford Crystal Women's World Cup, paying the penalty for not taking their chances yesterday, writes Bill Colwill from Dublin.

In a disappointing and, at times, scrappy and physical game, England did enough in the first half to have built up a comfortable lead. But it was only a brilliant save by Jo Thompson from Marcia Pankratz which prevented the Americans taking the lead just before the interval.

When Jane Sixsmith went off with a facial injury after 21 minutes, England's attack lost direction. Sixsmith's

return midway through the second half heralded a short English revival before Chris Cook was forced to concede two penalty corners. Barbara Marois, the American captain, converted the second in the 59th minute.

ENGLAND: J Thompson (Ipswich); J Atkins (Bradford Swithenbank); L Youngs (Ipswich), K Johnson (Balsam Leicester), C Cook (Hightown); M Davies (First Personnel Sutton Coldfield), S Lister (Ipswich, capt), T Miller (Clifton); J Smith (Chelmsford), J Sixsmith (First Personnel Sutton Coldfield), T Cullen (Hightown). Substitutes used: A Bennett (Slough), S Wright (Slough), S Gibson (Trojans),

UNITED STATES: P Shea; B Marois (capt); K Kelly, A Lucas, J Reeve; P Neiss, T Fuchs, L Lyness; K James, M Pankratz, L Martin. Substitute used: E Stone.

Umpires: L Crespo (Arg), G Spitaleri (It).