FIH Hockey Pro League action recap

Day One: 

Men - ENG (3) 2 v 2 (1) NED

England's men took on the Olympic champions in their opening match of block two of the FIH Hockey Pro League. England were looking hungry from the start and captain Zach Wallace stole the ball in midfield and execute an excellent run into the D finishing off with a goal. England doubled their lead in the 10th minute with a powerful penalty corner by Sam Hooper. 

The Dutch fought back to draw in the match in the 57th minute taking it to a shootout. England went into an early lead after Will Calnan scored his goal while James Mazarelo made an excellent save. Stu Rushmere and Zach Wallace scored their goals putting pressure on the Dutch for their four attempt but Mazarelo stood strong and secure the shootout victory for England. 

Women - ENG 0 v 3 NED 

England women were taking on a full-strength Dutch side in their opener in China and welcomed Amy Thompson back from injury to make her England debut. The Dutch took an early lead with Yibbi Jansen penalty corner in the 3rd minute. 

They doubled their lead in the 9th minute and then Jansen added to her total in the 28th with another penalty corner. The English side looked stronger in defence in the second half with a number of strong saves from Sabbie Heesh. 

Day Two: 

Women - ENG 2 v 3 CHN 

The women's team started strongly against the Olympic silver medallists, China, and took the lead with a powerful strike from Tess Howard in 34th minute. The team continued to show their strength through the third quarter as they doubled their lead in the 44th minute with another Howard field goal. 

As the match entered the fourth quarter, China fought back and scored two goals in the 53rd minute and then secured the winner in the 57th. 

Men - ENG 3 v 1 ESP 

Looking to capitalise on the momentum of the shootout victory against the Dutch team on day one, England's men's team looked hungry for success from the first minute. Sam Hooper executed another powerful penalty corner to put England in the lead in the 5th minute. Spain equalised in the 18th with an excellent penalty corner but England came back with a 23rd minute field goal from Nick Bandurak. 

England put the match out of touch in the 53rd minute with a knock in from Sam Ward.

Day 3:

Men - ENG (4) 2 v 2 (3) NED

In the second match against the Olympic Champions, Netherlands, England held their nerve in the first Quarter but went 1-0 down in the 23rd to a penalty corner. Just five minutes later, England found the back of the net after a powerful strike from Henry Croft in England's penalty corner. It was 1-1 at half-time but Netherlands took the lead back in the 34th minute with another perfectly executed penalty corner. 

With just 30 seconds left on the clock, Croft took a strike at goal and scored from a tight angle taking the match to a shootout. England missed their first two attempts but scored their next four and goalkeeper Ollie Payne saved the final attempt from the Dutch to secure the bonus point for England. 

Women - ENG 1 - 3 NED

England came out fighting at the start, earning a penalty corner within the first minute. The Dutch soon turned the tables, however, asserting plenty of pressure and creating several chances. But Darcy Bourne’s flick off England’s second penalty corner of the match saw them taking an unlikely lead to reach the first break 1-0 up. The Dutch found the equaliser in scrappy fashion in the second quarter with a floated ball across the D popping up for Joosje Burg to tap it in in front of goal. 

The Netherlands earned a penalty corner early in the third quarter. Yibbi Jansen stepped up to do what she does best, dragging the ball into the left corner to take her side into the lead for the first time in the match. The Dutch continued to control proceedings in the third quarter, creating some excellent chances, but the English defence stood firm to keep the score to 2-1 by the final break. It was then Pien Dicke who sealed the win for the Netherlands after England took off their keeper in the final minutes of the match. Dicke received a beautifully swivelled pass from captain Marijn Veen, worked the ball into the circle, and smacked it into the empty goal for the 3-1 win.

Day four 

Men - ENG 4 v 2 ESP

The men's team rounded off the Valencia block of FIH Pro League matches with an unbeaten run after securing the victory against Spain. Building on the performances early in the block, England came out fighting and went 1-0 up in the 4th minute after Jacob Payton converted a penalty corner. They doubled the lead with a Sam Ward penalty corner goal. 

Spain got one back in the 28th minute and equalised in the 38th minute. Stuart Rushmere retained the lead with an excellent field goal before Ward scored his second with an impressive counter attack in the 59th minute. 

Women - ENG 2 v 0 CHN

The England women's team secured their first victory in this block of the FIH Hockey Pro League with a dominant performance against China. It was an 8 minute penalty corner that put England ahead after Grace Balsdon converted the strike. England showed their strength in defence in the third quarter as China had eight penalty corners but couldn't get passed the impressive Miriam Pritchard. 

Tess Howard doubled the lead in the 51st minute with an excellent field goal from Tess Howard. The team are sitting on seven points ahead of the London leg.