England men win Commonwealth hockey bronze
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| Hosts: Birmingham Dates: From July 28 to August 8 |
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England’s men won a third successive Commonwealth hockey bronze medal as they prevailed in a nine-goal thriller against South Africa.
Six of those goals came in a thrilling second quarter, which ended 3-3.
England’s Phil Roper scored twice in the second half and Zach Wallace’s late penalty kick sealed the 6-3 victory.
Australia, who beat England in the semi-finals and have won all six hockey golds in Commonwealth history, will play India in the final at 12.30pm BST.
The bronze medal game burst into life in the second quarter as South Africa, seeking a first Commonwealth hockey medal, took the lead when Matthew Guise-Brown slotted the ball into the top right corner.
England equalized almost immediately with a stunning individual effort from Rhys Smith, before South Africa went ahead again through Mustapha Cassiem.
The hosts were not behind for long, thanks to Liam Ansell’s excellent long-range strike.
They took the lead for the first time when Sam Ward scored from a penalty corner, but South Africa’s Nqobile Ntuli leveled matters in the final minute of the second quarter.
In the second half, Roper hit the ball into the bottom right corner on the run, before scrabbling to get the ball over the line to put England 5-3 ahead.
Captain Wallace’s penalty gave England an unassailable three-goal lead, adding men’s hockey bronze to gold won by the women Sunday.
