London, May 4 (IANS) They lost their second straight match in the four-nation hockey tournament to test facilities for 2012 London Olympics but India seemed to be coming to grips with the elements as well as the blue synthetic turf. They were beaten 2-4 by Britain after losing to Australia 0-3 in the opener.
It has been really a testing time for the Indian team as they are still struggling to get acclimatised to the cold, blustery conditions and adjust to the new blue synthetic turf.
Britain, who lost their opener against Germany 1-2 in the four-nation tournament, looked a different side as Ashley Jackson scored twice.
Britain went 2-0 up within 11 minutes as the Indian defence wilted. Rob Moore first zipping in a reverse-stick shot from the top of the circle and then Simon Mantell’s drive was deflected in by Sandeep Singh.
V.R. Raghunath pulled one back for India from a penalty corner before Ashley Jackson scored twice in three minutes. He first deflected in Ben Hawes’s long ball and then struck from close range.
Sandeep converted a penalty corner just before the hour, but India never looked like getting back into the game, though they would have scored a third goal had it not been for a splendid goal-line save by James Tindall.
World No 1 Australia were defeated 2-3 by Germany in the other match of the day.
Indian hockey coach Michael Nobbs had felt before the game that the blue pitch at the venue for the London Games hockey competition in July-August at River Bank arena is not a matter of great concern and the team will get used to it before the big bash as it has enough practice matches scheduled ahead of the Games.
However, the turf came in for severe criticism from Australian coach Ric Charlesworth after key defender Graeme Begbie slipped during the team’s practice match against India Tuesday and was ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee.
“It is great to win, of course it is,” British coach Jason Lee said.
“We wouldn’t score those four goals agai. We were fortuitous to get the four that we did,but our performance is improving,” coach Jason Lee was quoted as saying by BBC.
“We did look sluggish and in the second half we stopped showing for the ball and we had some great opportunities to play through them if we just had a few more people feeling like they could deliver.”
Goalscorer Moore said: “That was an improvement, for sure. We got out of the blocks quickly. A few early goals really help.
“It’s great to be here and have the opportunity to stake my claim for selection. Goals are not quite collectors’ items for me but they don’t happen that often so I’m happy.”
Teammate Mark Pearn, a veteran of the Sydney and Athens Olympics, added: “The guys are starting to understand what a home Olympics might be like. If we can play the attacking style of hockey that we did in the first half, I think the crowd will enjoy coming to see us.”
In the other match of the day, second-ranked Germany upset No 1 Australia 3-2.
India will next play Germany and Britain take on Australia SaturdayBritain, Germany and Australia all have one win and one defeat to their names, while India have lost both matches.
