City duo help England take bronze in thrilling win over South Africa
WARD AND CONDON AMONG LOUGHBOROUGH STARS
LEICESTER duo Sam Ward and David Condon powered England to Commonwealth hockey bronze with a barnstorming 6-3 win over South Africa, writes Tom Harle of Sportsbeat in Birmingham.
Paul Revington’s young side bounced back from a crushing 3-2 semi-final defeat to Australia with a consummate attacking display to reach the podium.
England came back from behind twice to secure a third successive bronze medal at the friendly Games.
Ward, 31, said: “I think there’s big times ahead for these hockey boys.
“I might not be around to be a part of it but wow I think they’re going to do some incredible things over the next five or six years.”
The team featured several players with Loughborough University links – current students James Mazarelo and Stuart Rushmere, former students Condon, Chris Griffiths and Ian Sloan, and Leicester-born Ward, a former Loughborough player.
Skipper Zach Wallace said: “Going into the tournament we wanted the gold but I’m thrilled with bronze. The performance wasn’t amazing but we got over the line pretty comfortably in the end and I’m absolutely delighted.”
It capped a brilliant 24 hours for English hockey that saw the women’s team take their first Commonwealth title with a 2-1 win over Australia.
Wallace said: “It definitely inspired us. We were all down watching and cheering them on – we’re very close with the girls group – and we were absolutely buzzing for them.
“At the same time, we don’t want to let them get too many up on us!
“We want to put ourselves in the mix for medals as well.”
There were a flurry of chances at the end of the first quarter as marksman Nick Bandurak deflected just wide and, at the other end, Ollie Payne made a fine double reaction save.
The goals started flowing and five were scored in just seven secondquarter minutes.
South Africa’s Matt Guise-Brown ripped a drag flick into the roof of the net and Rhys Smith soon cancelled it out from close range.
Mustapha Cassiem pounced on hesitation in the home defence to restore the visitors’ lead but England came roaring back.
A clinical finish from Liam Ansell, his third goal of the Games, drew them level and then Ward dragged low into the left-hand corner to edge them ahead.
The lead didn’t last long as Nqobile Nutili deflected past Payne after a spell of South African pressure.
The third quarter was a tighter affair with both sides briefly going down to ten before Phil Roper crashed a loose ball through bodies and in to restore England’s advantage.
That goal seemed to snap South Africa’s resolve and England dictated the second half, pulling further in front when Roper bundled home amid a goalmouth scramble.
He added a second on 50 minutes to take his tournament tally to eight and Wallace added further sheen to the scoreline with a late penalty stroke.
Wallace added: “Six months ago we didn’t have a coach and we were a demotivated group after Tokyo.
“We’ve had so many injuries coming into this, Covid in the mix, boys coming back from injury, non-selection, illness.
“No-one would have noticed. That speaks volumes for the tenacity of the group.”
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