Hockey: Scots women blow lead against South Africa in Titwood Test

Scotland lost 4-2 to South Africa in the third Test match at Titwood last night and are now two down in the series against a side six places above them in the world rankings and on their way to the London Olympics.

The Scots found themselves chasing the game when they went a goal down in only four minutes. The defence failed to clear the danger and Kathleen Taylor sent a reverse stick shot past debutant goalkeeper Nicki Cochrane.

Scotland came back into the contest and went close when Sarah Robertson’s effort was saved by the keeper and a Nikki Kidd effort went wide of the target. Midway through the half the Scots were back on level terms, when at a penalty corner Sam Judge’s direct shot went in off a defender’s stick.

The teams went into the interval on level terms, largely due to a quadruple save by Cochrane as the South Africans pressed for the advantage.

The Scots shocked the visitors two minutes into the second half as, at a penalty corner, Nikki Kidd’s low drag flick went into the net off the goalkeeper’s stick for a 2-1 lead.

The South Africans stormed back into the contest and Jennifer Wilson deflected the ball past Cochrane for the equaliser. Although Holly Cram had a chance to put the Scots ahead again but failed to make a clean contact, thereafter the South Africans took control and Karen Bright from a set piece rebound and Sulette Damons with a fierce low shot put the game beyond the hosts.

Meanwhile, striker Matt Daly’s first goal after six months out with a knee injury gave Great Britain an 2-1 important victory over New Zealand in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

The Surbiton forward struck eight minutes before half-time with a tidy finish to add to East Grinstead midfielder Ashley Jackson’s 17th-minute opener, his fourth of the tournament.

With eight minutes remaining Andrew Hayward converted a penalty corner but New Zealand could not force an equaliser and lost their 100 per cent record as GB moved into third place in the table, just two points behind the leaders.

Coach Jason Lee, having been critical of the team’s performance in Monday’s defeat to Argentina, was much happier with the display.

“I thought Matt Day played very well considering this is only his third game back from a long-term injury,” he said.

“He scored a very good individual goal and it is encouraging to see him getting into the right positions.

“It was a much improved performance following the Argentina game where I had been very disappointed. I thought the players showed a lot of spirit and we played some good tactics to win the game.”

Great Britain, who yesterday had to do without James Tindall as the Surbiton forward was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after turning an ankle in the win over India, face Korea today in their penultimate round-robin match.