England underlined their credentials as potential Hockey World Cup winners by sealing top spot in Pool D with an 8-2 win over Wales.<\/p>\n
Sam Ward took just 73 seconds to open the scoring before Will Calnan deflected in a second.<\/p>\n
Some brilliant saves from Toby Reynolds-Cotterill kept Wales in the game, but Calnan added his second and Tom Sorsby smashed home a fourth to end the first half.<\/p>\n
Wales improved in the third, but England captain Zach Wallace scored a fifth from a rebound.<\/p>\n
Sam Hooper added a sixth through the legs of his Wimbledon Hockey Club team-mate in the fourth, with Henry Croft and Nick Bandurak also scoring.<\/p>\n
Gareth Furlong scored two late consolation goals from a penalty stroke and penalty corner.<\/p>\n
England's high-tempo attack made life difficult for the Welsh defence with clever deflections giving the attackers lots of shooting chances.<\/p>\n
England had mathematically qualified for the second round after two games, but Zak Jones' ruthless side showed no signs of letting up.<\/p>\n
They had 14 penalty corners to just one for Wales, though Wales did score through their lone attempt – with Furlong's fourth goal of the World Cup moving him top of the scoring charts.<\/p>\n
The world ranking and funding gap between the two sides was clear as Wales struggled to create chances against a resolute English defence.<\/p>\n
Many Welsh players have full-time jobs or study, and are responsible for funding their own international travel, with just three of the 20 men in the Wales squad being full-time athletes with GB.<\/p>\n
Furlong using 'freedom of fatherhood' at Hockey World Cup<\/p>\n
Wales name 20-player squad for Hockey World Cup<\/p>\n
Wales' hockey team crowdfunding for World Cup<\/p>\n
It was the second time the sides had met at a Hockey World Cup, with England winning 5-0 at the 2023 tournament in India.<\/p>\n