Hockey: Giles' penalty enables England to scramble draw against Italy

A Calum Giles penalty corner conversion seven minutes from time saved England's blushes as they drew 3-3 with Italy in Catania, Sicily, yesterday in the second of their two-Test series. The two sides drew by the same score on Saturday.

Whereas on Saturday Engand overcame a two-goal deficit to draw with goals from Russell Garcia, Stuart Head and Mark Pearn, yesterday they were two up after four minutes through Adrian Simons and Giles.

England allowed the Italians back in with Gianluca Cirilli scoring twice before the interval and Massino Lanzano putting them ahead at a penalty corner.

Although England now dominated the game they lacked cohesion and squandered penalty corners. Giles' face-saver came from England's ninth penalty corner attempt.

St Albans, the National Indoor Champions who on Saturday at the Glades Centre, Kidderminster were coasting to this year's finals with three straight wins, yesterday crashed out with defeats to Old Loughtonians and Teddington who qualified along with Hull.

St Albans' dreams fell apart despite an heroic performance by Andy Halliday who scored six goals yet still finished up on the losing side against Teddington, the 9-7 winners. East Grinstead, Reading and Doncaster also qualified.

- Bill Colwill