Great Britain beat Ireland in Pro League encounter

Sam Ward scored doubly arsenic Great Britain’s men returned to Pro League action pinch a 5-1 triumph complete Ireland astatine nan Lee Valley Hockey Centre.

Henry Croft, Phil Roper and Gareth Furlong were besides connected target for Great Britain, who hadn’t played competitively since qualifying for nan Paris Olympics successful January.

Ireland, caller from a brace of Pro League victories complete Belgium past week, scored done Ben Walker.

Great Britain's women, meanwhile, claimed their first triumph of nan Pro League season, winning 3-2 against bottommost broadside United States.

This was nan first of 12 Pro League games for some Great Britain teams men complete nan adjacent 29 days, pinch some nan men and women facing India connected Sunday.

That lucifer will beryllium preceded by Ireland’s title pinch Germany.

It was Ireland who started confidently connected Saturday, and they almost took nan lead erstwhile Luke Madeley’s effort from a punishment area went conscionable wide.

Slightly against nan tally of play, Great Britain took nan lead successful nan 12th infinitesimal pinch a awesome onslaught from Croft connected his debut.

He controlled nan shot conscionable wrong nan circle and fired it debased past Irish goalkeeper Davy Harte.

Roper’s reverse instrumentality changeable early successful nan 2nd 4th doubled nan advantage for nan location team.

Ireland sewage themselves backmost into nan crippled pinch a prestigious decorativeness from Walker. He beautifully trapped a shot into nan circle from Jonny Lynch, turned, and poked it past James Mazarelo.

However, seconds aft nan restart Jonny McKee received a 10-minute yellowish paper and Great Britain took afloat advantage erstwhile Ward, connected his 200th world quality for GB and England, deflected nan shot into nan nett astatine nan backmost post.

His 2nd extremity came early successful nan 3rd 4th from a punishment area that killed nan crippled arsenic a contest.

An fantabulous squad capacity from Great Britain was completed adjacent nan extremity erstwhile different debutant, Welshman Gareth Furlong, converted different punishment area routine.

Elizabeth Yeager opened nan scoring for nan US but Lily Owsley levelled for GB's women earlier half-time.

Grace Balsdon and Fiona Crackles scored aft nan break to springiness GB a two-goal advantage.

Sophia Gladieux pulled 1 backmost via a section extremity successful nan 4th quarter, but nan hosts held connected for a first triumph successful 5 games to propulsion distant from nan US astatine nan ft of nan table, though they stay second-bottom.