Winning start for Australia, Britain in Hockey World League Final

World champions Australia beat Belgium 1-0, while Great Britain spanked Canada 3-1 HWL Final.

Raipur: World champions Australia eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Belgium while Great Britain spanked Canada 3-1 in Pool A matches of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, here on Saturday.

In the second match of the day, legendary striker Jamie Dwyer scored a brilliant field goal in the 2nd minute to hand world No 1 Australia their first win in the tournament.

Even though the Belgians tried hard but they failed to break the resolute Australian defence.

Meanwhile earlier in the day, Great Britain beat Canada 3-1 to open their campaign o a positive note.

Great Britain, who left experienced players like Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton for this tournament, struck an early goal through a field effort from Simon Mantell (2nd minute) to take the lead.

But Canada bounced back strongly and equalised within two minutes through a field goal from Mark Pearson to make it 1-1.

The British side, however, scored two more field goals within two minutes in the second quarter to make the scoreline 3-1 in their favour.

Mantell scored his second of the day in the 23rd minute before Nick Catalin extended the lead in the next minute from another field strike.

Thereafter, both the teams tried hard but failed to break the opposition defence.

Great Britain will face Belgium tomorrow while tournament favourites will be up against Canada in the other Pool A match.