England trump Australians for fifth spot

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: England beat Australia 2-0 to take fifth place in the women's field hockey Champions Trophy here Sunday.

Fresh from beating Australia 3-2 in the last pool match Friday, the English had Beckie Herbert and Chloe Rogers to thank for their goals while goalkeeper Beth Storry played a stormer to keep a clean sheet.

Helen Richardson set up England's first goal early in the game with a self-pass free hit near the top of Australia's circle, pushed to the left post for Herbert to rebound off the pads of Australian keeper Rachael Lynch into the left of goal.

Rogers then got the last touch on a Laura Unsworth drive at the top of the circle to score from England's second penalty corner in the middle of the second half.

Australia's second half pressure yielded four penalty corner chances, all saved by Storry.

Earlier China reversed its 4-1 loss to Germany in the pool match to take seventh place with a 5-3 goalfest win over the Germans.

China took a 4-0 lead after 30 minutes with one goal by Sun Sinan, two by Zhao Yudiao and another by Song Qingling.

Marie Maevers started Germany's comeback, scoring before the break.

Janine Beermann and Julia Mueller added goals for Germany early in the second half to claw back to 4-3 in favour of China.

Zhao Yudiao gave China a two goal advantage in the middle of the second half and recovery proved to be a bridge too far for Germany.

South Korea, replaced overnight in the final by Argentina, play New Zealand later for the bronze medal. The Argentinians will face the Netherlands in the final.