Day three of the Rabobank Hockey World Cup in The Hague Netherlands opened with Pool A's Australia and Spain. The Kookaburras got three goals in the opening half over Spain to earn their second-straight victory. England earned their first three points thanks to a late goal to send them up 2-1 over India. The final game of the day saw a sensational effort from striker Tom Boon who lifted the Red Lions up 6-2 over Malaysia with four outstanding goals
MEN POOL A: Australia v Spain 3-0 (3-0)
Australia made it two out of two with a 3-0 victory over Spain: the pool A match providing a masterclass in fast, skilful hockey. The tempo and mood of the game was set from the whistle as Rob Hammond picked up a loose ball, jinked his way past the Spanish defence and found his teammate, Timothy Deavin (2'), who put the ball away with aplomb. The subsequent goal celebration – which Deavin explained away with a sheepish "well I don't score very often" – marked the start of a combative game between the two hockey nations.
MEN Pool A: England v India 2-1 (1-1)
India's last minute curse continues to haunt them as England snatched victory through a Simon Mantell goal with just 75 seconds left on the clock. The match looked to be heading towards a 1-1 draw as play from both teams veered between brilliant and pedestrian. India were the livelier going forwards but England's defence was resolute and while India always threatened to score the spectacular goal, in fact they were forced to take shots that were either wide, high or easy for goalkeeper George Pinner to deal with.
MEN Pool A: Malaysia v Belgium 2-6 (2-3)
Tom Boon showed exactly why he is rated as one of the finest strikers in world hockey by scoring four times to help Belgium's Red Lions storm to a 6-2 triumph over Pool A rivals Malaysia. The Malaysians found themselves ahead on two occasions in the contest, but Boon netted a first half hat-trick before grabbing a fourth either side of goals from Tanguy Cosyns and John-John Dohmen to take victory in arguably the most entertaining match played so far at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup.
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