Britain display their power

Hockey

PETER COLWILL

Great Britain 4 Argentina 2

Great Britain survived a 20-minute stoppage after a floodlight failure and a spirited second-half Argentinian revival to win the first of two internationals 4-2 at Reading last night.

In a sparkling first quarter of an hour Britain sailed into a two-goal lead. Russell Garcia's close control allowing Robert Thompson to squeeze in the first goal in the 10th minute.

Six minutes later a smartly moved switch at Britain's first penalty corner resulted in a goal for Don Williams. Fernando Morresi, the Argentinian captain, snapped up a penalty corner rebound five minutes after half-time, but with the visitors temporarily reduced to nine players Garcia flicked a penalty corner into the roof of the net to restore Britain's two-goal lead.

Lacking the influence of Shaw, who was substituted at half-time, Britain conceded another goal 10 minutes from time when Jorge Lombi converted the fifth of Argentina's eight second-half corners.

A needlessly conceded corner gave Garcia the chance to score his second and Britain's fourth.

GREAT BRITAIN: D Luckes (East Grinstead), Soma Singh (Southgate), P Edwards (Cannock), G Fordham (Hounslow), C Hector (Old Loughtonians), A Colclough (Teddington), D Williams (Guildford), J Shaw (Southgate), R Thompson (Hounslow, capt), R Garcia (Real Club de Barcelona), R Crutchley (Cannock). Substitutes used: J Wallis (Teddington), M Pearn, H Hoskin (both Reading), K Priday (Guildford), J Lee (Old Loughtonians).

ARGENTINA: P Moreira; R Schmitt, L Baccarro, D Ruiz, J Querejeta, M Caldas, G Muir, F Morresi (capt), J Lombi, G Orozco, R Perez. Substitute used: G Minadeo.

Umpires: H Alegre (Arg), M Peary (Wal).