Great Britain beat Ireland in Pro League encounter

Sam Ward scored twice as Great Britain’s men returned to Pro League action with a 5-1 win over Ireland at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.

Henry Croft, Phil Roper and Gareth Furlong were also on target for Great Britain, who hadn’t played competitively since qualifying for the Paris Olympics in January.

Ireland, fresh from a pair of Pro League victories over Belgium last week, scored through Ben Walker.

This was the first of 12 Pro League games for Great Britain over the next 29 days, with their next against India on Sunday.

That match will be preceded by Ireland’s contest with Germany.

It was Ireland who started confidently on Saturday, and they almost took the lead when Luke Madeley’s effort from a penalty corner went just wide.

Slightly against the run of play, Great Britain took the lead in the 12th minute with a wonderful strike from Croft on his debut.

He controlled the ball just inside the circle and fired it low past Irish goalkeeper Davy Harte.

Roper’s reverse stick shot early in the second quarter doubled the advantage for the home team.

Ireland got themselves back into the game with a classy finish from Walker. He beautifully trapped a ball into the circle from Jonny Lynch, turned, and poked it past James Mazarelo.

However, seconds after the restart Jonny McKee received a 10-minute yellow card and Great Britain took full advantage when Ward, on his 200th international appearance for GB and England, deflected the ball into the net at the back post.

His second goal came early in the third quarter from a penalty corner that killed the game as a contest.

An excellent team performance from Great Britain was completed near the end when another debutant, Welshman Gareth Furlong, converted another penalty corner routine.